Eight-year-old Aberdeen schoolboy and mother killed in India flat fire

Tributes have been paid following the deaths of an Aberdeen schoolboy and his mother in a flat fire in India.

Eight-year-old Joshua Valthaty and his mother, Dr Glory Valthaty, 43, are believed to have been visiting relatives in Mumbai when the incident occurred.

According to local reports, at around 11.30am on Monday morning, the fire started on a lower floor and quickly spread upward to the Valthaty residence.

Three other people were also injured in the fire, including one whose condition has been described as critical.

Joshua, who was a pupil at Kaimhill School in Aberdeen, has been described by headteacher Susie Webster as a “much-loved member of his class”.

Paying tribute, she said: “It is with deepest sadness that Kaimhill School and wider community have received the shocking news of the death of Joshua and his mum, Glory.

“Joshua joined us at Kaimhill Nursery in September 2020, quickly becoming a much-loved member of his class, and well-liked across the school by all staff and pupils.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this very difficult time.

“We also think about Joshua’s classmates as they return to school on Monday and assure our wider community of ongoing support.”

Dr Valthaty previously worked for NHS Grampian as an anaesthetist, before leaving in 2018 and signing on as commercial director of Faith Projects Ltd in Dundee.

Her brother-in-law, Gladsten Behara, told the Hindustan Times the family had travelled to India to meet her ill mother.

Speaking to the Indian Express, a senior Mumbai Fire Brigade official said that while their investigation is underway, the cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed.

An FCDO spokesperson said: “We are providing consular assistance to the family of two British nationals who have died in Mumbai.”