Hakha Blaze Killed 4 Family Members
02 May 2011: Four family members were killed in a blaze that was believed to have started in their own house near YMCA Office in Pyidawta ward of Hakha Town, Chin State around 4am in the morning today.
The dead bodies identified were Pi Dawt Khun, 40, of Salen village in Thantlang Township, her daughter Hannah Lai Ram Mawi, 3, son David Ceu Lian Thang, 9 months, and their ‘disabled’ grandfather, Pu Tei Kim, aged 78.
A local resident in Hakha Town told Chinland Guardian: “It is not yet clear how the fire broke out in the early morning of the night. By the time their neighbours noticed of the blaze around 4am, their bedroom had been burnt down and all of them already dead.”
“It has been rumoured that the fire might have started from the bedroom where their ‘severely paralysed’ grandpa sleeps,” said one of the ward community leaders.
One of their neighbour houses was also burnt down but the family members were said to have managed to escape unscathed, according to the Hakha local.
Other sources have claimed that the house of Pi Dawt Khun might have been intentionally set on fire by some individuals with envious motives in an attempt to snatch their belongings as the family is known to be well-off in the town.
A local fire engine was said to be arriving at the scene about 30 minutes after the house had been on fire.
Husband Pastor Ngun Zam Thang is today said to be on his way from a trip to Bungkhua Bible Consultation in Thantlawng Township.
The dead bodies are now kept in a private house after being taken breifly to the Hakha hospital for an examination.
A funeral service is scheduled to take place tomorrow.
On 24 March this year, another fire accident razed the house of Pu Khua Hat and all their belongings to the ground in Hakha Town around 11pm at night.
Van Biak Thang
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