PORT DICKSON: A family's Deepavali joy has turned to sorrow after their home was destroyed in a fire on Friday (Oct 17), just days before the festival.
R. Gobinath, 25, said the blaze occurred around 11.00pm while he was at work in Bandar Enstek, Nilai, and no one else was home.
Gobinath, who is the third of five siblings, said he lived in the house on Jalan Mayung with three other siblings and their parents, while another brother resided in Johor Bahru.
"My family was in Cyberjaya at the time. A neighbour called around 12.30am informing me our house was on fire and the roof had collapsed.
"By the time I arrived home, everything was destroyed. We are utterly heartbroken. We just moved here two years ago, and this would have been our second Deepavali here," he told reporters.
He added that they had made more extensive preparations this Deepavali compared to the last one, including renovating the kitchen and purchasing several new electrical appliances.
Gobinath said his family suffered nearly RM10,000 in losses and is now staying in a rented house near their former home.
"Even our new Deepavali clothes were ruined. A new TV cabinet, bought just two days before the fire, was also destroyed," he said.
The family's plight drew the attention of Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, who came forward to provide financial assistance to the father, M. Rajan.
The Port Dickson MP expressed his sympathy for the family and hoped they would be granted the strength to endure this ordeal.
"I call on the local community to continue showing their concern and spirit of togetherness by supporting this family," he said in a Facebook post. – Bernama
