India, Oct. 9 -- Madikeri, Oct. 9 (PS&BCT)- In a tragic incident, a seven-year-old boy was charred to death when a massive fire broke out early this morning at the hostel of Har Mandir Ashram School in Katakeri village, Madikeri taluk.

The victim, identified as Pushpak, a Class 2 student, was the son of Kekada Anil Kumar and Triveni, a farming couple from Chettimani village. Triveni also works as a guest teacher at the Kundacheri Government School.

The Ashram school, jointly run by two NGOs, offers free education to underprivileged children through cottage-style classrooms. It currently educates 102 students, of whom 53 reside in the hostel.

Two students and the hostel warden, who suffered from smoke inhalation, have been admitted to a...