Thoughts of her younger brother, Ravindra Lal, lying injured on the floor of their destroyed home brought back many memories for Nirmala Chand.

The house remains in the same state – in tatters after the category 5 Tropical Cyclone Winston ripped through the country this time last year.

Mr Lal, 49, died after sustaining injuries from the corrugated iron of their home. Ms Chand and her family still find it hard to believe that Mr Lal was no longer with them.

The family lives along the Saru Back Road in Lautoka.

“I was in Australia at that time but my youngest brother and Ravindra lived together at the house,” Ms Chand said.

Her brother and son told her about the tragic news. Ms Chand narrated the scene told by her brother who was at work when a Fiji Sun team visited the family.

“Both my brothers were supposed to go to my aunt’s place that night because the cyclone was getting worse, but they were late,” she said.

Part of their house was damaged by the termites and the winds blew so hard that the house fell, she added.

“My brothers were inside, while the younger one managed to escape injuries, Ravindra suffered from serious injuries.”

Sadly, both brothers spent the night under a tree. The next morning Mr Lal was rushed to hospital where he later died.