The mechanical fault claimed the lives of four from a family – Father, Mother and their two minor children – who charred to death due to explosion of Air Conditioner (AC) machine at their home
in Mariyammanahalli village of  Vijayanagara district at around 1am on Friday. The house was also gutted in the incident.

Venkat Prashanth (42) and his wife D. Chandrakala (38) and their son Advik (6) and daughter Prerana (8) were burnt alive due to high flames caused due to explosion of the AC machine. A woman who also was at the home has got protected her life by escaping out from the house.

The AC machine was caught afire due to gas leakage. triggered an electric short circuit. Police said that in minutes the fire engulfed the whole house and the inmates breathed due to suffocation.