Old wooden houses razed
WHILE residents in Tronoh Mines new village were sound asleep, Arjan Singh and his family remained awake – to watch their shophouse reduced to ashes.
The overnight fire had gutted their sundry shop-cum-home, destroying RM500,000 worth of sundry goods and cash.
"I could not salvage anything from the fire, except the clothes that I am wearing," he said.
In a tough spot: Arjan (left) telling Lee (right) how the fire incident started while (from second left) Radzi Manan, Chang and Wa look on.
Arjan's family was one of the few who ran a sundry shop in Kampar.
"My father started the business here some 70 years ago.
"It is depressing to watch the fire destroy the shop my father started some 70 years ago.
"It is almost like watching my father's legacy dwindle into nothing," he said.
Arjan, 48, recalled the fire starting at about 11.30pm last Tuesday.
"A patrolling police officer came knocking at my door, telling me that there were sparks of fire on the vacant house next door," he said, adding that he suspected the sparks came from the external switch box.
He went back to the house to call his wife, mother and sister to get out, and alerted his neighbours.
In just a while, the wooden house was already on fire, he added.
"The fire spread fast and burned down our house," he said, adding that they had tried to put out the fire but failed.
Arjan and his family were temporarily putting up in Gurdwara Sahib Tronoh Mines, not knowing what would be their next plan.
Chintamany Arangan, another villager whose house was damaged in the fire, said she would stay with his son in Malim Nawar, Kampar.
"I have lost everything – refrigerator, cupboards, washing machine, and valuable jewellery," she said.
Chintamany, 73, who was accompanied by her sons and grandchildren at the scene, said she had been living alone ever since her husband passed away in 1984.
"I cannot bear to leave my house since I have been living here for more than 45 years," said Chintamany, who was visibly upset.
Wong Ah Mooi, owner of a vacant house that had also been razed to the ground, said she was surprised how the empty house could cause fire.
"I have already cut power supply before moving out in 1995," she said, adding that she is now living with her son in Taman Seri Emas near Kampar District Council building.
Wong, 73, said she would wait for other villagers to decide on what to do next.
Kampar MP Datuk Lee Chee Leong said the welfare department, Kampar district office and other agencies would provide assistance to the fire victims.
Lee, who is also Deputy Home Minister, said villagers whose official documents including identity cards and birth certificates that were destroyed in the fire could seek help at his service centre.
Malim Nawar assemblyman Keshvinder Singh, Kampar Umno division chief Datuk Radzi Manan, Keranji Barisan Nasional coordinator Chang Gwo Chyang, state Barisan Supporters Club secretary Daniel Wa Wai How were also seen expressing their sympathy to the fire victims.
-The Star-
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