School pays tribute to 'three beautiful souls' after family die in tragic blaze

14 November 2023 , 12:01

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Aroen Kishen survived the blaze that claimed the lives of his wife Seema and their three young children - two are pictured (Image: UKNIP)

Tributes have poured in for the five people from the same family who were tragically killed in a horror house fire.

Amongst the five dead in the blaze in Hounslow, west London, were three children, who died on Sunday evening after the fire was reported to emergency services shortly before 10.30pm. It wasn't until after 1am that firefighters had the blaze under control.

Dad Aroen Kishen is thought to have survived the blaze, having made it out of the burning house. But his wife Seema and their three children, Riyan, Shanaya and Arohi, tragically didn't. They were amongst the five bodies found dead on the first floor of the property.

The Evening Standard reported that the family had been entertaining guests and one person remains unaccounted for still. Today, a number of tributes were left to the family, including some by the children's fellow pupils at their local school.

Tributes left to Riyan by fellow year six pupils said they were "all crying today and missing you". Individual bunches of flowers for the three children were placed at the scene on Tuesday on behalf of Springwell School, Hounslow. Tributes attached to the flowers read: "Rest in peace sweet child."

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School pays tribute to 'three beautiful souls' after family die in tragic blaze

The house in west London after the horror blaze (Humphrey Nemar)

A tribute left on behalf of a Mrs Sheldon said: "Words cannot even begin to express our sorrow at hearing the loss of three beautiful souls. Forever in our hearts! Good night and God bless."

Another tribute left on behalf of "year 6" read: "Dear Riyan. I am so sorry that this has happened to you. All crying today and missing you today. You are still part of our family. We will never forget you, and you will always be in our hearts. May God grant you eternal life in heaven."

A third tribute said: "We are your your neighbours although we never met I am so sorry". The tributes were left at the top of the road where the family lived.

Tributes poured in to the five people who sadly died (Zahra/Mirrorpix)

One of the messages from the school of two of the three kids who sadly died (Zahra/Mirrorpix)

Rafiah Dhillon, 56, who lives less than 50 metres from the burnt house, said the family always kept a "beautiful garden." The nurse said: "My son is partially sighted so we walk him around the block every day and we used to go past their house. I didn't know the family but they always had a beautiful garden with lots of flowers and a nice bench outside. It was lovely to walk past.

"I came home at around midnight on Sunday. When the police escorted me into my home, the house was still ablaze and there was lots of smoke. It was very scary. I couldn't sleep and I didn't want to look away."

Tributes were left at the top of the road where the five people sadly died in Sunday's fire (Zahra/Mirrorpix)

A reduced police cordon remained in place around the house on Tuesday. The Metropolitan Police said the fire's cause is under investigation. No arrests have been made.

Locals described seeing smoke on Sunday evening but were unsure if it was related to Diwali fireworks. Speaking at a press conference at the scene on Monday, Chief Superintendent Sean Wilson, asked if he could rule out fireworks as a possible cause of the fire, said: "At this stage, this is being investigated both by ourselves and specialist fire officers.

One of the tributes left to the five people who've tragically died (Tony Kershaw / SWNS)

"I am not ruling anything out. I don't think we are in a position to do that. We keep an open mind. It is such an early stage and there is an awful lot of work to be done."

Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, Leader of Hounslow Council, said: "On behalf of the Council I would like to offer my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of those who lost their lives in the tragic fire at Channel Close, Heston, last night. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected during this difficult time. We are working together with our colleagues from the London Fire Brigade and the Metropolitan Police to support the recovery effort.

Tributes were left at the top of the road (Tony Kershaw / SWNS)

“Hounslow Council colleagues are conducting welfare checks with those affected and are on hand to provide assistance around the clock. If you are affected by the fire in any way, please get in touch with Ruth Walshe from London Fire Brigade, on 07385 943955 or via email."