Study of burn deaths in Nagpur, Central India

A series of 384 victims of burn deaths were reviewed to determine the trends of burn deaths in Nagpur, an urban area of Central India. It was found that deaths due to burning accounted for 21.6% of the total medicolegal deaths. Female (74.2%) predominance was seen in burning with male-female ratio equal to 1:2.9. Most of the victims of burn deaths were between 11-40 years with peak at 21-30 years (47.1%). Married (79.9%) outnumbered unmarried ones in burning. Accidental burning (75%) was the commonest manner of burn deaths followed by suicidal and homicidal burning. Kerosene was the main causative factor for burning with kerosene burner as the commonest causative agent. The kitchen (69.3%) was the commonest place of burning and clothes of the body, particularly the sari as the commonest vehicle of burns.