AN elderly couple, Gyan Wati, 63, and Uday Chand, 62, died after they were trapped inside their burning house along Valemasima Road in Votualevu, Nadi, early yesterday morning.
Their son, Uden Chand, said the fire spread so quickly that he could not open the door to save his parents.
“My wife woke me up around 12am and we could feel the smoke inside the house,” he said.
He opened the back door to evacuate his son and wife, but when he tried to help his parents, the whole house was on fire.
“My father was yelling to open the door because the door was locked.
“He was telling me to save my mother as she was sick. He was saying “please save mum”, but I was really helpless.”
He said everything in the four-bedroom house was destroyed.
“I’m not sure what I will do; only what we are wearing is what we have right now.”
Mr Chand and his wife and son are staying with their neighbour until they recover from this tragic incident.
Meanwhile, National Fire Authority CEO Puamau Sowane said the tragic event brought immense sorrow to the NFA and the wider community.
“As we await the findings of the fire investigation, let this tragedy serve as a wake-up call for all communities.”
Police and the NFA are continuing investigations on the cause of the fire.
