SIBLINGS Animika Hardat, nine, and Shameena Hardat, three, tragically lost their lives on Wednesday in a devastating fire that engulfed their home in Belmont, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.

The heart-breaking incident occurred while the children were left alone by their parents, who had gone out to run errands.

According to the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), the fire was reported at 13:07hrs. on Wednesday and water tender #106 and crew from the Mahaica Fire Station were immediately dispatched to the location.

The building involved was a two-storey wooden and concrete building owned by Ayube Mohamed Khan and was occupied by 79-year-old Zaman Khan and his family of 11.

“The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time and investigations are being carried out by the Fire Prevention Department. As a result of the fire the building and its contents were destroyed and two children lost their lives,” the GFS said in a release.

The Fire Service said that two siblings were left alone at home and little Anamika’s disability made it difficult for her to exit the house.

Speaking to the media, the grieving mother Shabeeka Hardat shared the harrowing details of the day. She revealed that her two daughters were left alone at home while their two brothers were attending school.

Wednesday morning, she had taken Animika and Shameena to have their pictures taken, intending to get passports for them. After returning home, she left for Georgetown to purchase school supplies for her children.

It was during her shopping excursion she received the unimaginable call informing her of the fire that had engulfed their home.

“I get this phone call that my house on fire. I couldn’t believe, I couldn’t understand what they was telling me. I just could seh I was in town, yall see what’s the best yall could do because I won’t have reach home in time… I don’t know what happened there…” the woman said.

The woman raised suspicion over the cause of the fire, and shared a disturbing account revealing a history of conflict with a neighbour.

According to Hardat, the same neighbour had set her house on fire last year and had also physically assaulted her, resulting in the loss of one of her fingers.

Recalling the distressing events, Hardat disclosed that the police were involved, leading to the neighbour’s arrest and his subsequent imprisonment.

However, she expressed concern and distress as the neighbour had recently been released from prison.

Before his incarceration, Hardat claimed that the neighbour had issued threats against her and her family, indicating a continued threat to their safety.

Meanwhile, the stepfather of the victims, Feroz Khan, expressed the family’s disbelief and shock, as the children had often been left alone before.

“We still na believe. For the past couple years that kids does stay alone, they can handle they self…We na expect this would have happened. They is na the type of kids wah is misbehave…. They don’t play with matches or anything,” Khan said.

He further explained that the bodies of the children were tragically burnt beyond recognition, and the fire had destroyed everything in the house.

Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony visited the grieving family members and expressed government’s commitment to support the family through this difficult time.

Meanwhile, the GPF said that it is saddened over the loss of these two young lives and continues to advise citizens to exercise caution and follow safety measures to avoid home fires.

The GFS stressed that children should be educated on the dangers of fire starters (matches and lighters) and warned about their use.

It also warned that children should not be left alone or at home without adult supervision.