A 41-year-old woman perished in a house fire in Rakiraki on Tuesday night.
Aleshmin Pratap, a community health worker in the Dugapatu and Mullau area, died after she was trapped inside and was unable to get out of her five-bedroom house.
Her husband, Vinay Darshan said the fire started at 11pm.
“There was a lot of smoke in the house and all I could do was to get my two boys out,” he said.
“We tried to take a window grill down, but were unsuccessful.
“I have lost my house, a car and a carrier.”
Mr Darshan estimated loss of property to be around $100,000.
Police spokeswoman Ana Naisoro said a joint investigation with the National Fire Authority was in progress to determine the cause of the blaze.
“The victim was allegedly trapped inside,” she said.
NFA chief executive officer Puamau Sowane said they were saddened by the loss of a life in the fire and sympathises with the family.
“It is my plea to the people to take extra precautions.”
