Five held as fire kills chained patients

Indian police have arrested five people running an asylum where a fire killed at least 25 people.

Indian police have arrested five people running an asylum where a fire killed at least 25 people.

Police say most of the victims were chained to their beds.

Officers arrested the five for alleged negligence in maintaining the asylum in Erwadi, Tamil Nadu state, a police spokesman said.

Police say the asylum, which was run by a religious charity, wasn't registered with the local authorities.

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Over 50 patients were in the asylum when the fire broke out. Only a few patients, who were unchained, managed to escape.

Witnesses say charred corpses were found still manacled to their beds after the fire was put out.

Police chief A Ravindranath said: "So far, 15 bodies have been recovered but no identification is possible as they have all been charred beyond recognition.

"We are still in the process of retrieving the bodies and believe some more could have died either of suffocation or burns."

Initial investigations say cinders from a burning oil lamp may have caused the fire.

The unit is among around 30 private asylums in the Muslim pilgrimage town, where people believe a bath in holy water can cure psychiatric illness.

PA