The girls' uncle Bishnu Kafle (centre) is comforted by family outside Timaru Hospital. Photo / Martin Hunter
The three sisters orphaned after yesterday's horror Waimate house fire have spent their first night without their parents and younger brother and are today making funeral arrangements.
Tej Kafle, 49, wife Tika, 38, and youngest of four children, 9-year-old Pream perished in a blaze that engulfed their five-bedroom flat above their Everest Indian Restaurant in Waimate.
The Queen St fire in what was the old Savoy Tearoom and Bakery building broke out at around 7.40am.
Sisters Tulsi, 23, Manisha, 16, and Mamata, 11, who all sleep in the same room, woke to the fire and tried to rescue their parents and younger brother but were beaten back by smoke and flames.
They were hospitalised with minor cut and smoke inhalation injuries but discharged early yesterday evening.
An Everest Mayoral Support Fund, set up at Waimate ANZ Bank yesterday for anyone who wished to make a donation to the family which has lost everything, has already received more than $6000 in donations.
Tej's brother Bishnu Kafle yesterday told how the girls tried to save their family. When they smelled smoke, they called out to their parents and brother who shared another room but heard nothing, he said.
"They opened the bedroom door but the flames and smoke pushed them back," said Bishnu.
"They tried to call their mum and dad in the next room but they could not hear anything.
"They broke the windows and managed to get outside on to a balcony.
"Two "gutsy" young co-workers of Tulsi at nearby New World supermarket tried to help them, fire officials said.
Firefighters then got them down to safety.
"I must look after these three girls. They are very scared, and crying. They are safe now, " Bishnu said.
"They will come live with me in Christchurch. We will all look after each other now."
Fire investigators believe the fire began in the kitchen of the flats above shops.