Bangkok : At least 17 young girls lost their lives and several others were either missing or injured after a fire swept through the dormitory of a school for the children of hill tribes in northern Thailand.
The fire started late at night when many of the children were asleep and as a result of which they were unable to escape.
The fire, which broke out at 11 p.m. on Sunday, engulfed the two-storey building, reports Daily Star.
Two of the injured are said to be critical.
There were 38 students inside the dormitory when the fire broke out.
The rescue workers picked through the debris late Sunday and Monday morning.
Thailand is home to a patchwork of hill tribes, who mainly live in the remote northern area bordering Laos and Myanmar. (ANI)