Police have named a father and daughter who died in a house fire as 38-year-old Sohaib Ahmed and his nine-year-old daughter Manahal.
Mother Asifa was not at the family home in Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, when the blaze took hold on Sunday morning as she was on a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, in Saudi Arabia.
The couple’s 11-year-old daughter, who was seriously injured in the fire, continues to be treated in hospital and is described as being in a critical but stable condition.
Their eldest son was also not at home when the tragedy occurred as he was sleeping at a relative’s house.
Devasted mother Asifa is thought to have returned to the UK from her Hajj.
Taxi driver Sohaib and his two daughters were pulled from the blazing house by firefighters after a tumble dryer set alight in the kitchen as they slept upstairs, it is believed.
West Yorkshire Police stated: ‘Enquiries into the fire remain ongoing by Kirklees District Police on behalf of the coroner.’
Police were called to reports of a fire at a property in Heckmondwike on Sunday morning
Two firefighters have also been seen inspecting what appears to be a washing machine in the house’s back garden
West Yorkshire Police stated: ‘Enquiries into the fire remain ongoing by Kirklees District Police on behalf of the coroner’
Since the news of their deaths were announced, tributes have been flooding in.
One local said: ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with all the victims and their extended families and friends at this difficult time.’
Another said: ‘My heart and thoughts go out to their family and friends at this heartbreaking time. Really hope the other girl makes a full recovery.’
West Yorkshire Fire Service previously said: ‘We were called at 06.11 yesterday to reports of a house fire on Russell Close in Heckmondwike.
‘We sent four crews (2x Dewsbury, Spen Valley and Morley).
‘Firefighters retrieved three people from within the property, two of whom were taken to hospital by ambulance.
‘Our fire investigators are working with police to establish the circumstances of the fire.’
