Five members of a family died in a house fire in Hounslow, west London, on Sunday, police and firefighters said. Seema Ratra died along with her three children, while their father Aroen Kishen survived and was taken to hospital. Sky News said in a report. There was one other person, also a member of the family, who was present at the scene and remains missing, the newspaper said. There was no immediate indication of what caused the fire at the property near Heathrow Airport and a neighbor rejected suggestions that Diwali fireworks were to blame.
Speak with Sky NewsNeighbor Felicia Matei said she fled their home due to the fire that broke out at 10.20pm on Diwali evening. The woman added that she heard Mr Kishen shouting: “my children, my children”.
“It was a big fire. I shouted at my family and told us to run,” Ms Matei said.
The fire destroyed two floors and the roof of the house. Seventy fire engines were on site and fought the fire until Monday morning.
Other people from the area told it Independent that fireworks for Diwali celebrations were the loudest in decades, and that they saw flames flickering on the trees while the entire area was shrouded in smoke “like a fog.”
“It was so loud. Then the ambulances came. It’s very sad. I can’t believe it. How could five people die? How did it happen so quickly?” Sayed Arfeem, 80, told the outlet.
Chief Inspector Sean Wilson called it a “terrible incident” and said London Fire Brigade will work tirelessly to find the reason behind the tragedy.