Cries from a grandmother echoed within the community of Solovi, Nadi, yesterday as hundreds gathered to pay their last respects to a mother and daughter who died in a fire on Monday.

Heartbroken and in tears, Janki Devi, 62, still can’t believe that she lost her youngest daughter and granddaughter.

The mother and daughter were burned to death in their flat at Solovi,Nadi, on Monday.

The bodies of Moreen Devi and her nine-year-old daughter, Ashmita Kumar, were cremated at Wailoaloa in Nadi yesterday.

“I still cannot believe my baby is gone. She was always looking out for her family and sisters; even her in-laws were well looked after by her,” Ms Devi said while crying uncontrollably.

“My granddaughter Mina was growing up to be a beautiful young woman.”

It was even more painful when friends and families learned that the late Ms Moreen had posted a photo of all the siblings together on her Facebook page, a day before the fire incident.

“In it, she wrote how much she missed us,” said Ms Moreen’s oldest sister, Sunika Devi.

“I will never forget her; she was always kind to her siblings especially her niece and nephews.

“The last time she called she informed me that she was going to spend some time with us during Easter holidays and now she is no more.”

Students and teachers from Andrews Primary School and work colleagues of Ms Moreen from Nagsuns Apparels in Navakai, Nadi, also attended the funeral.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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