Indian citizen dies in Kuantan shophouse fire

KUANTAN, Jan 23  -- An Indian citizen was burnt to death in a fire that razed the third floor of a  shophouse that has been converted into multiple rooms at Jalan Bukit Ubi here at midnight.

Pahang Fire and Rescue Department deputy director (fire and rescue operations) Ismail Abdul Ghani said the victim, Manikandan Murugan, 28, from Chennai was said to be an employee of a nearby restaurant.

“The victim’s body was found sprawled near one of the exit stairs. 

“Another 27 local and foreign individuals who were staying at the same place managed to escape after firemen knocked on their rented room doors,” he told reporters when met at the scene here today.

Ismail said the fire was believed to have started at 12.53 pm. It was put under control at 2.05 am by eight fire officers and 38 firemen from the Kuantan, Indera Mahkota, Taman Tas and Gebeng fire stations.

He said the victim’s remains were taken to the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital (HTAA) here while the cause of the fire and the estimated losses were still under investigation.

Meanwhile, State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Abdul Rahim Muda, when met at the scene, said the state government will direct local authorities to inspect and issue notices to premises owners who converted shop houses into rented rooms without complying with required specifications and security aspects.

-- BERNAMA