Support funds exceed $50k

Funds for the three sisters who survived a horrific fire in Waimate are continuing to skyrocket, passing $50,000 on Friday evening.

The Everest Mayoral Support Fund set up by Waimate Mayor Craig Rowley was at $40,000 last evening. A separate Givealittle fund for Tulsi, 24, Manisha, 17, and Mamata Kafle, 11, has reached $10,150, while Waimate High School students raised $1565 yesterday with a mufti day.

The sisters lost their parents, Tej and Tika, and little brother Prem, 8, when fire tore through their first storey home on Queen St in Waimate.

Tej Kafle’s brother, Bishnu, said the sisters were well aware of the community’s willingness to help.

‘‘I told them, they are happy,’’ he said.

Bishnu would take the girls back to Waimate on Monday to see if there were any supplies they could gather from their family restaurant.

Rowley, who was at Thursday night’s ‘‘moving’’ funeral service for the Kafles, called the support ‘‘heartening’’ and ‘‘overwhelming’’.

He said he was proud to be mayor of Waimate and the South Canterbury district was a caring community.

‘‘There’s been a huge amount of support,’’ he said.

Waimate High School principal Janette Packman said the school, where Manisha was a year 11 student, wanted to support the sisters in whatever way was appropriate. Waimate Main School had taken it upon themselves to start a condolence book at Wai- mate’s library. Rowley said the book would be presented to the family in the near future.

Ikawai farmer Robyn Green was among those who set up a Givealittle page for the sisters. Green had also helped organise a fundraiser in Waimate following April’s devastating Nepal earthquake.

The Waimate District Council was also fielding offers of support from around New Zealand, Rowley said.

An Ashburton business had offered beds, while the council had fielded offers of clothing, accommodation and other items.

‘‘It’s just a matter of what to do with it and how to get it to them, so we’ll be working on that in the next few days,’’ Rowley said.

Donations through the Givealittle page ranged from $10 to hundreds.

Many donors left messages of support for the three sisters – ‘‘I’m so very sorry for your loss, it is such a tragedy to lose three wonderful family members this way,’’ one donor wrote.

‘‘All New Zealand feel for you and are there to support you in your futures. God bless,’’ another wrote.

Mid-South Canterbury area commander Paul Henderson on Friday said he was ‘‘not in a position’’ to disclose how the fire started.

Authorities have handed over control of the building to Waimate Harcourts, on behalf of the owner.

Everest Mayoral Support Fund

01-0893-0081636-00, ANZ, 110 Queen St, Waimate. The Givealittle page can be accessed via the Nepal Earthquake Fundraiser page.