Three in religious school fire recovering

KUALA LUMPUR: Three students who survived the blaze at the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah religious school in Kampung Datuk Keramat here are recovering.

Kuala Lumpur Hospital (KLH) director Datuk Dr Zaininah Mohd Zain said the victims — 12year-old Zunnun Misri Nasrun, 13-year-old Indra Kurniawan and 11-year-old Muhammad Shahir Sharifuddin — were in stable condition.

Zunnun was said to be making a positive recovery as he was cheerful, could communicate and able to position himself on his bed.

He had undergone surgery to remove burnt skin.

Indra, who suffere d bu r ns , smoke inhalation and a fracture, is conscious and able to respond to brief conversations.

Shahir was said to be responsive and cheerful.

He was able to eat small amounts of food.

He sustained 20 per cent burns, a collapsed lung, abdominal injuries and a fractured pelvis.

On Sept 14, a fire broke out at the school.

Twenty-three people died in the incident.

Investigators established that the fire occurred under suspicious circumstances and arrested seven suspects, aged between 12 and 18.

It was established that the children had torched the building as revenge, after being embroiled in an argument with some of the religious school students.

Two of the underage youths, both aged 16, were charged with murder while the others were charged with self-administration of drugs.