In happier times, Kogie Veerappen, her husband Maya, grandson Dhasheyan, daughter-in-law Prithie and son Niren. Picture: Supplied

IT HAS been heartache and anxiety for a Chatsworth family who lost three loved ones when their home was ravaged by fire in December.

Their pain and anguish was exacerbated by the 2-month wait they had to endure for the bodies of all three deceased to be eventually released this week and their last rites were performed at a funeral service yesterday.

Maya Veerappen, 91, his bed-ridden wife Kogie, 89, and their only child Niren, 54, who all lived together were killed when fire ripped through the upper level of their Dawnview Road home in Silverglen,Chatsworth on the evening of December 22.

Their Maltese dog Zoe also died in the fire.

Due to the intensity of the fire and the extent of burns the three deceased persons sustained, confirming their identities became a complicated and a drawn out process, where all the relevant protocols had to be adhered to.

Dhasheyan Veerappen, 23, whose father (Niren) and grandparents lost their lives during the blaze, said it was a “huge relief to finally lay to rest our loved ones”.

Firefighters found three bodies in three separate bedrooms after they had brought the inferno under control and they suspect Zoe died from smoke inhalation.

Nkulumo Dube, Division Commander of the Durban Fire Department, confirmed the deaths at the time of the incident but they were not able to confirm the cause of the fire.

Dhasheyan Veerappen said the authorities were yet to confirm what triggered the fire.

“It was not ideal trying to get the DNA test and results done. There were various complicated issues to deal with. They had to redo a test at some point, which added to the delay.

“There were certain protocols that needed to be followed so there was no way to get around that.”

Veerappen explained that his loved ones’ deaths happened during the festive season and health services and other staff were not at their full complement at the time, which resulted in the longer than usual wait for the lengthy processes to unfold.

“We eased back to normality at some point after the main trauma and shock had passed. We were forced to get on with life.

“My mom is a single mother and I’m a Masters student. We had to move on.”

He said losing three loved ones at one go was very complicated because you grieve each one in a different way and with different intensity.

“You mourn, then you have to stop mourning and get on with life. It’s the least ideal thing to happen, but our faith in God has helped us.

“We understand that everything happens according to divine timing.

“My dad was a really good father, we had a good relationship. He was a solid man and we were very close.”

Niren was a depot manager for a major Durban-based alcohol manufacturing company.

“My dad was really good at his job,” said Veerappen.

Maya Veerappen was a retired school principal who grew up in the Clairwood area and the former leader of the Star Orchestra, a well-known band that started in his hometown in 1938 and existed for 75 years.

Maya was also a former long-standing member of the SCDIFA, sports, charitable and educational trust and community activist.

Jugga Pillay, whose association with Maya dates back to the late 1950s through the orchestra, spoke of the widespread shockwaves that reverberated in many communities when the news of his friend and family’s demise broke.

“It was a triple-tragedy.”

Pillay said Maya was a piano accordionist and he had a distinct style that made him outstanding because of his level of skill.

“He stood out because of his discipline and meticulous nature, and he was a respected musician in his hey day.

“He loved socialising and was always the centre of attention at such gatherings. He retired some years ago as the principal of Truro Primary.

“From December 22 to now, it has been a patient wait for the authorities to do their work meticulously before the identities and deaths were confirmed,” said Pillay who was involved with the coordination of the funerals.

DAILY NEWS