The bodies of three teenagers from Telangana who had lost their lives in a fire accident in the United States in December arrived in Hyderabad on Friday. The bodies of Sharron Naik (14), Joy Naik (15) and Aaron Naik (17) arrived at the city's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport and later taken to the Baptist Church in Narayanaguda where a prayer was conducted. The bodies were later shifted to their native village in Nalgonda district to be buried on Saturday.
"We have lost our three children in the fire accident that took place in Collierville, US. We have faith in our God who is giving us the strength to do these formalities. Prayers of many people have helped and I would like to thank the central and state governments for supporting us in bringing back the bodies of our children," Srinivas Naik, father of the deceased, was quoted as saying.
The teens passed away in December after a fire broke out at a home in Collierville in Tennessee at around 11 pm which also killed house owner 46-year-old Kari Coudriet. The teenagers were students at French Camp Academy in Mississippi and visited the Courdiet household in Collierville after they were invited for Christmas. According to media reports, the parents were in India on a missionary trip when the incident occurred.
“Friends and family, please pray for Pastor Naik and his wife. They sent their three precious children to America from India to keep them safe, and during the break, a fire took their lives. They have been a blessing to the French Camp community and are loved by our whole town. I cannot fathom the grief of their parents as I know how much our town is grieving,” the Town of French Camp said in a Facebook post at the time.