Soesdyke newspaper vendor burnt to death in fire

Jun 28, 2012 News

A 68 year-old newspaper vendor identified as Kunti Singh was last evening burnt to death after fire destroyed her Old Road Soesdyke home.
According to reports, the fire started around 19:00 hours in the one flat house which the woman occupied. The dead woman has been identified as a newspaper vendor who operates at the Soesdyke junction.

What is left of Kunti Singh’s home

Neighbours told this publication that seconds before the fire was spotted a loud explosion was heard coming from the woman’s house.
“Everybody heard this loud explosion and within seconds we hear people screaming that Kunti house on fire.” This publication was told that by the time persons raced to the house the entire building was engulfed with flames.
“Quick time this place just catch and them boys start trying to out the fire and calling fuh Kunti but we didn’t hear no answer, so them start trying to break the house but she does normally got two big lock on the door,”.
Not long after the fire tenders arrived,  but by then most of the house was already burnt with the woman inside.
When this publication arrived on the scene the fire was already put out but the woman’s charred remains were still burning as relatives as well and residents of the area stood by. Eventually a fireman was instructed to out the fire on the woman’s remains.
According to reports the woman lived in the house with her six-year-old granddaughter who was not at home when tragedy struck. There are also reports that a lamp may have fallen on the ground and started the fire which quickly caught onto the gas bottle since it is believed that the woman was cooking with the lamp nearby. Investigations are ongoing.
The woman’s sudden death came as a shock to her relatives as well as residents of the area as she was a very active woman around the community.
“She does tek she one and two drink but people does always mek sure she reach home and lock up properly once she done sell.”