Beijing, May 30: A court in northwest China's Shaanxi province has sentenced a woman to seven years in jail for having negligently caused a major forest fire that killed 10 people and injured eight seriously. Zhang Sheqiao, a farmer of the Foping county was accused of leaving a burning sacred candle before a hill tomb at noon on March 28, which caused a furious bush fire. A huge area of forest was reduced to ashes during the fire, which also claimed ten lives and injured eight seriously, Xinhua news agency reported. Local police arrested Zhang on April 09. The county court yesterday convicted Zhang on the charge of negligently causing a fire.

Bureau Report