Samastipur, May 31: Confusion over the exact whereabouts of a teenager during a freak blaze cost his life at his Bahadurpur Colony residence under Town police station last night.

The boy, identified as Raja Paswan (13), normally used to sleep in his father’s room but when the house caught fire last night, he was asleep in a different room alone.

While running out to safety, Raja’s father, Arun Paswan, a construction worker, thought that his wife had rescued Raja, while the woman assumed that Raja was safe with his father.

However, when the leaping flames were finally doused, the parents found out that the roof of the room in which Raja was sleeping had caved in.

Sources said the fire had been triggered by a short-circuit, which had resulted from rainwater falling on an electric meter.

In the morning, Paswan’s four goats were also found charred and his brick house left in debris. Sources said Raja lost his life in the confusion resulting from the blaze.

“Police reached the spot early this morning and took custody of Raja’s body. It has been sent for post-mortem,” said a source. Till the filing of this report, the body had not been returned to the family. Arun was waiting to perform the last rites of his son.

A case of unnatural death has also been lodged at the Town police station.

Satish Kumar, a neighbour, told The Telegraph: “Rainwater fell on the electric meter and caused sparks that triggered the blaze. The fire engulfed the house and the residents could only cry out for help.

“Later, the blaze was put out with the help of the neighbours,” he added.

Town police station house officer Radhe Shayam Pratap Singh said: “A propo-sal had been sent to the district administration to provide relief to the aggrieved family.”