Appeals for Waimate fire survivors raise $126,000

Waimate fire survivors (Manisha Kafle, Mamata Kafle, and Tulsi Kafle. Photo / Martin Hunter

Donations have poured in from around New Zealand for three sisters whose parents and young brother died in a Waimate fire two months ago.

By yesterday, $126,000 had been raised.

Two major fundraising efforts have closed - the Everest Mayoral Support Fund at the ANZ, set up by Waimate Mayor Craig Rowley, and an appeal on the Givealittle website, which ended last Wednesday.

The mayoral fund raised nearly $110,000 and the Givealittle appeal $16,000.

"It's been absolutely fantastic, with money coming in from around the country and a lot from the North Otago and Waimate communities," Mr Rowley said.

"It's more than what I expected."

The sisters scrambled to safety through a window and on to a veranda after fire engulfed their apartment above the family business. Photo / Supplied

A trust was being established to manage the funds, Mr Rowley said. He will be a trustee and two others, a solicitor and a member of the Kafle family, will also be appointed.

Sisters Tulsi, 24, Manisha, 17, and Mamata Kafle, 11, are now living in Christchurch.

Mr Rowley said Mamata was attending Burnside Intermediate, and Manisha was at Burnside High School. Tulsi was taking papers in nursing at the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology.

The sisters scrambled to safety through a window and on to a veranda after fire engulfed their apartment above the family business, the Everest Indian Restaurant, in Waimate's main street, on August 5.

Their parents, Tej, 49, and Tika, 38, and brother Prem, 8, died in the fire.

"The restaurant is still empty," Mr Rowley said.

"I think everyone is waiting till the fire report."

The Fire Service had investigated the cause of the fire, service spokesman Peter Riordan said. The report would go to police and then to the coroner's office.