Four people, including three teenagers from Telangana, lost their lives in the US on Sunday, 23 December, after a fire broke out at a home in Collierville in Tennessee at around 11pm.
The deceased were identified as 46-year-old Kari Coudriet and Sharron Naik (14), Joy Naik (15) and Aaron Naik (17).
The parents of the three teenagers reportedly hail from the Nalgonda district in Telangana and the father of the teens is said to be a pastor at the Collierville Bible Church.
According to media reports, the parents were in India on a missionary trip.
The teenagers were students at the French Camp Academy in Mississippi and were visiting the Courdiet household in Collierville after they were invited for Christmas.
While the exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, Kari Courdiet’s husband, Danny, and son, Cole, survived the incident and are undergoing treatment at the hospital.
While both of them were taken to the Emergency Room, with Danny being treated for minor burns, both their conditions are said to be stable.
Neighbours also participated in the rescue attempt until firefighters arrived, but in vain.
“By the time we came out of the house, we heard them yell and the house was, you know, a blaze,” Scott Symons, a neighbour, told a local media outlet.
“... They have been a blessing to the French Camp community and are loved by our whole town. I cannot fathom the grief of their parents as I know how much our town is grieving,” the Town of French Camp said in a Facebook post.
The Collierville Bible Church, in a detailed post, said, “At this time, we are asking for privacy and discretion regarding the Missionary children. The family is en route from India and many of the details of the events are still being communicated to the family. Please respect this family and give them the time and ability to process information.”
(Published in arrangement with The News Minute)
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