The three sisters who escaped a house fire that killed their parents and younger brother yesterday have spoken of their horrifying ordeal for the first time.
Tej Kafle, 49, wife Tika, 38, and youngest of four children, 8-year-old Prem perished in a blaze that engulfed their five-bedroom flat above their Everest Indian Restaurant in Waimate.
The Queen St fire in what was the old Savoy Tearoom and Bakery building broke out around 7.40am.
Sisters Tulsa, 24, Manisha, 17, and Mamata, 11, who all sleep in the same room, woke to the fire and tried to rescue their parents and younger brother but were beaten back by smoke and flames.
They were hospitalised with minor cut and smoke inhalation injuries but discharged early yesterday evening.
The sisters were taken to uncle Bishnu Kafle's home in Christchurch where he says he will take them in.
Today, the told how they managed to get out of the burning house but are devastated that they could not save the rest of their family members.
They had been in bed in the room they shared about to get up for school when the blaze started.
"I was sitting in the bed... my sister woke up, opened the door and at that moment they were shouting out and telling, "Mum, mum," and I was wondering what happened," Manisha said.
"It was smoky. I couldn't see anything."
Tulsi managed to break a window after hitting it three or four times with her forearm.
They escaped through the smashed glass on to a balcony above shops below.
Manisha today told how she couldn't see anything inside the room.
"I wanted to save my parents," she said, and so she went back into the burning building to retrieve her cellphone.
She found her phone and came out of the building.
Manisha phoned her mother but got no answer.
She then phoned 111.
Manisha said she and her sisters were "yelling [for people] to help us".
"Unfortunately we couldn't save our parents and our little brother," Manisha said from a bed at her uncle Bishnu's home in Christchurch where they are recovering.
Tulsi said she first noticed there was a fire when a "strong wind" rushed through the door.
"I said, 'It is not earthquake, what's happening?'" Tulsi said.
She opened the door and said there was a "high wind" in the corridor.
"I called loudly my mum and dad and they didn't answer me. What to do? I hadn't any idea.
"It was really smoky.
"I broke the window and I got out.
"We are sad we could not save our parents. We are really saddened."
Today the grieving sisters remembered their parents as "really nice people".
"Every moment we are crying and remembering them. I can't forget them," Tulsi said.
As the eldest sibling, Tulsi said she has to look after her sisters now.
Their mother used to buy their clothes and cared for them all, Tulsi said.
"They did everything for us. We have no ideas."
At Timaru Hospital, the sisters were asking about the rest of their family.
But they weren't told anything until after midday yesterday, the girls said.
Tulsi injured her arm escaping the broken window and again while falling down on the tin verandah roof.
When her colleagues from nearby New World supermarket tried to help them, Tulsi thought the worst.
"I didn't think we were going to survive," Tulsi said.
"I was thinking we were going to go through the tin, and we were going to die. My mind wasn;t working at that time."
The girls say they have an uncertain future. They don't know whether they will stay in New Zealand or return to Nepal.
"We have no idea at the moment," said Tulsi.
Their grandparents are currently in the country on holiday.
Family spokesman Tez Bhattarai said the family is still planning the funeral. It could happen as soon as this evening, or perhaps tomorrow, in Christchurch depending on when the bodies are returned to them, he said.
Related story: 'I must look after these girls'
Mayoral fund for family
Waimate Mayor Craig Rowley, who owns a jewellery shop near the restaurant, said the tragedy had shocked the community.
''I know the people. They are a lovely family; hardworking,'' he said.
Mr Rowley has set up a bank account, the Everest Mayoral Support Fund, with the ANZ Bank to help the three sisters. About $6500 has so far been collected.
Other Waimate residents echoed Mr Rowley's sentiments about the family, describing the fire as ''very sad'', ''tragic'' and ''unbelievable''.
Rohanna Sumith, who is from Sri Lanka and has been working on a Waimate dairy farm for about a year, got to know the family while visiting the restaurant on his days off.
Even if he did not want a meal, he would sometimes call in for a chat. ''They were a very good family, very friendly,'' he said.
Another customer, Steve Storer, said the family was always friendly and close. ''I feel for the ones who are left. Their whole life has just changed in an instant.''
Two witnesses who worked in the area and arrived shortly after the fire started said there was more smoke than flames. However, they did not know until later that people had died.
How to donate
Waimate Mayoral Appeal bank account for the fire victims: 01 0893 0081636 00
Firefighters' efforts praised
South Canterbury Fire Service area commander Paul Henderson said the first units from the Waimate brigade were at the fire four minutes after the call was received. They were joined by firefighters and units from Glenavy and Washdyke.
About 20 firefighters were involved and the fire was put out in about an hour.
He praised firefighters' efforts in handling the intense fire. Although an investigation had begun, Mr Henderson said the fire was believed to have started in the kitchen of the apartment. A cordon on the street was removed about 3pm.
Mid South Canterbury area commander Inspector Dave Gaskin said results of the investigation would be referred to the coroner.
- By David Bruce and Kurt Bayer in Waimate, additional reporting NZME.
