TRIBUTES have poured in after a dad and his nine-year-old daughter were killed in a horror house fire.
The blaze that ripped through the house in Heckmondwike, Yorkshire killed Sohaib Ahmed, aged 38, and his daughter Manahal Ahmed on Sunday.
Sohaib Ahmed, 38, and his nine-year-old daughter Manahal tragically died on Sunday
An 11-year-old girl, Sohaib’s other daughter, remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital.
Now, Sohaib and Manahal have been pictured for the first time as locals pay poignant tribute to the pair.
Georgina Darragh said: “So very sad awful a dad and his wee daughter taken far too soon Rest in Peace sweet souls”.
Angela Walshaw wrote: “Oh this is so sad, and pray the little girls as full recovery”.
Anne Sellers added: “Aww so so sad my thoughts are with family rip both of u”.
Detective Inspector Paul Greatorex said: “We are continuing to work with colleagues at the fire service to investigate this dreadfully sad incident which has resulted in a father and daughter losing their lives.
“Extensive enquiries have been ongoing since yesterday and we have been working to locate and support relatives of the victims both here and outside of the UK at what is clearly an awful time for the family.
“While our enquiries remain ongoing we do not believe there are any suspicious circumstances regarding the cause of the fire and will be preparing a file for the coroner in due course.
“Our support for the family involved clearly also still continues.”
Enquiries into the fire remain ongoing by Kirklees District Police on behalf of the coroner.
This comes after it emerged the mother of the family had been on a trip when the tragedy unfolded.
Neighbours told The Sun that the mum-of-three was away on a religious pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, and returned home yesterday.
Cops said they don’t believe there are suspicious circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
West Yorkshire Fire Service said it sent four crews and firefighters pulled a man and two young girls out of the burning building.
Despite the best efforts of paramedics, Sohaib died at the scene.
Both girls were rushed to hospital, where Manahal sadly died later that day.
Sohaib was looking after their three children – the two girls and his son while his wife was away.
Their eldest was staying with relatives on Saturday night so he was not inside the red-brick semi detached house in the quiet cul de sac when the fire took hold.
Former neighbours Andy Boys, 30, and Mehvish Iqbal, 29, came to lay floral tributes outside the fire damaged house.
Mehvish said: ”My son used to play outside with her little girl, the one that has passed away. It is just awful.
“To know that the mother is away in Mecca and she is coming back to this, I don’t know how she is going to deal with it mentally.
“The girls are lovely little girls, I pray that her older sister pulls through.”
Andy said: ”They were lovely neighbours, we lived next door.”
A number of floral tributes have been left outside the house.
More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online
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