House fire claims three lives

Cries of Bhachao! Bhachao!

Bhachao! (Save me! Save me! Save me!), will haunt Manasa Ratu for some time.

Mr Ratu watched helplessly as Ben Mati,70, cried for help and died in a fire.

The house fire Navakai, Nadi, also killed her daughter, Surya Wati, and an unidentified man. He is believed to be the defacto partner of Ms Wati.

Mr Ratu gave an account of the tragedy that happened on Saturday morning when he was first awoken by his family to do what he could to help his neighbours. He accompanied other men but their efforts to rescue them were futile.

Police confirmed the death of the three and are investigating the matter.

Mr Ratu said he was sleeping when the incident happened. “As I was making my way to the house I searched for an area to break in as the home was safely secured with burglar bars, I could hear the voice of nani (Ben Mati), calling out with a struggling voice, “Bhachao! Bhachao! Bhachao! “We tried to open the door but it was locked from inside. We managed to break the louvers.

“We tried our best but it was too late as the flames continued and then her voice slowly faded out.

“It is a sad day in the neighbourhood.

“One of the best memories we share with our neighbours is during Diwali last year. They called us and shared their sweets and food with us. They were good neighbours.”

Another neighbour, Mohammed Sadiq, 52 who lived next door, was awoken by the calling of the victim.

“My room is next to their house. I was awoken by her plea. Bhachao!

Bhachao! By the time I ran out I could see the house on fire.” Ben Wati’s surviving daughter, Saras Wati, said: “I spoke to my mother last evening, Friday I told them that I would be visiting them the following Friday.

“We were both looking forward to seeing each other but litle did I know that it would be the last I would hear from her.”

Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirmed that three bodies had been recovered from the scene of a house fire.

“A fire broke out at the home of woman in her 70s early this morning at around 6.30am,” she said.

“The cause of fire is yet to be ascertained as joint investigations with the NFA continue.” National Fire Authority Chief executive officer Manasa Lesuma said: “At 6.48am, the Nadi Fire Station was alerted through a call and responded immediately. “Upon arrival, the house was fully engulfed and the officers had to force their way into the house through the front and back door.

“It’s sad that three people had lost their lives in the fire.

The NFA investigation team is cooperating with the Police to determine the cause of death and cause of the fire.”

NFA has sent a reminder to the public to stay vigilant and help prevent such incidents and loss of life.

Photo: Waisea Nasokia. A firE At A rEsIDEnCE In NAvAkAI ClAImED tHrEE lIvEs yEstErDAy. PolICE ConfirmED tHAt tHE tHrEE DEAD wErE BEn MAtI, HEr DAuGHtEr SuryA WAtI AnD HEr DE FACto pArtnEr wHosE nAmE wAs not rElEAsED By tHE FAmIly. Pictured: PolICE oFfiCErs loAD tHE BoDy oF onE oF tHE vICtIms At NAvAkAI, NADI on MArCH 16, 2019.

Photo: Waisea Nasokia Police and the National Fire Authority are doing a joint investigatoin on the cause of the house fire at Navakai, Nadi.

Photo: Waisea Nasokia Ben Wati’s surviving daughter, Saras Wati, being consoled by family members on March 16, 2019.

Photo: Waisea Nasokia Police carrying a body bag onto the Police truck at Navakai, Nadi on March 16, 2019.

Ben Wati.

Surya Wati.