Phoenix siblings die in fire allegedly caused by exploding phone

A devastating fire that broke out in the early hours of Sunday morning claimed the lives of siblings Pradyumna and Prishni Harisuran at their home in Charclay Place, Clayfield, Phoenix. 

The inferno is suspected to have been ignited by a cellphone that exploded while charging on a sofa, rapidly engulfing the residence in flames.

Emergency responders were alerted to the blaze around 6 am. 

Gareth Naidoo, head of KZN VIP Security and Emergency Services, said his team arrived swiftly but was met with an intense structural fire that hampered rescue efforts.

“Thick smoke had already filled the house, making evacuation efforts extremely difficult. It is believed that Prishni, 30, was trapped inside a bedroom, while her brother Pradyumna, 35, was confined to the bathroom,” Mr Naidoo said.

In a desperate bid to save the siblings, community members and KZN VIP responders shattered windows and attempted to break through the security bars. However, the intense heat and thick smoke made entry impossible. Firefighters soon arrived on the scene and worked to extinguish the blaze, cutting through the gate and doors to access the home once it was safe to enter.

Mr Naidoo said upon conducting a sweep of the property, emergency personnel discovered Prishni first. Despite immediate efforts to resuscitate her, she had sustained fatal third-degree burns and was pronounced dead at the scene. 

“Pradyumna was later pulled from the wreckage and also received emergency CPR, but tragically, he too succumbed to his injuries,” said Mr Naidoo.

Witnesses described how residents united in a valiant attempt to contain the fire, using hosepipes and wet sand to slow its spread. However, the ferocity of the flames made it impossible to rescue the siblings in time.

 Police spokesman Colonel Robert Netshiunda said they were investigating the matter.