All the children staying in the children’s orphanage home, in which a fire mishap occurred on Tuesday, were reportedly locked up in the dormitories, said the officials who visited the spot.

Krishna district Child Welfare Committee (CWC) member Chandragiri Radha Kumari said the inmates complained that they were locked up in the rooms. “In all, 140 boys are staying in the home and about 35 children were accommodated in one room on the first floor of the building in which fire occurred,” she said.

Fire broke out in the orphanage home for children around 1.30 a.m. at Gannavaram in Krishna district on Tuesday. Four children suffered burns, while two other inmates fell sick due to suffocation.

“On seeing the flames, we ran to a corner of the room and shouted for help. On hearing our screams, the watchman opened the doors after some time,” the inmates of the home said. However, the staff said the inmates would be locked up during night hours to prevent them from escaping.

Speaking to The Hindu, Krishna District Collector D.K. Balaji said that an inquiry had been ordered into the incident and the report was awaited.

“Instructions have been given to the Juvenile Welfare and the Women Development and Child Welfare officers to inquire into the registration of the home, details of the inmates as well as the management and the staff particulars,” said Director, Women and Child Welfare and Juvenile Welfare M. Venugopal Reddy.

Krishna district Women Development and Child Welfare Project Director M.N. Rani, said the reasons for the cause of fire was being investigated.