Boy apes TV show, suffers burns, dies

Twelve-year-old Kashi Vishwanath of Manthani died while imitating the kerosene fire-breathing technique he saw on a TV reality show.

He suffered 80 per cent burn injuries when the fire bounced back and his body caught fire. He died while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Hyderabad on August 1.

Vishwanath was alone in his grandmother’s house in Hanumanagar colony in Manthani town, Peddapalli district, on July 31 afternoon. He had just seen a TV reality show which demonstrated the kerosene fire breathing technique and tried to do the same in the bathroom of his house.

Neighbours noticed smoke coming from the house and heard Vishwanathan screaming for help. They rushed to his rescue but he was already burnt by then. He was taken to a community hospital in Manthani town, given primary treatment and referred to Karimnagar for further treatment. From there, he was shifted to a private hospital in Hyderabad.

On an earlier occasion too Vishwanath had attempted this fire breathing technique but luckily had escaped unhurt. His family warned him not to do it again.

The sixth standard student lived with his grandmother after his mother died and his father remarried and moved to Hyderabad. “We never thought his death would be like this,” bemoaned his grandmother Dasari Bhudevi.

SI of Mathani police, U Upender Rao, said no family member has lodged a complaint but a case has been filed in Banjara police station in Hyderabad. He said an investigation will be underway once the case is shifted to Manthani.

Mr Rao said the police are trying to create awareness among school children and the youths about the dangers of imitating dangerous techniques presented by experts in reality shows on television.