'Almost everything is gone': Haniff Khatri, family lose 28 years of memories

Prominent lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla and his family narrowly escaped with their lives after a fire engulfed their Bandar Country Homes residence early Monday. The blaze, which ignited around 3am, obliterated belongings and memorabilia accumulated over 28 years, including Haniff's handwritten notes and journals spanning three decades.

The family, consisting of Haniff, his daughter and two sons, managed to escape unharmed but faced devastating losses. Haniff's daughter discovered flames in the second-floor living room after using the bathroom. Haniff, who was downstairs watching a football match, was alerted and attempted to extinguish the flames but quickly relinquished the effort as the fire intensified and thick smoke filled the area.

The family frantically fled the house as objects began exploding and glass shattered. Haniff sustained a minor burn, which was treated by firefighters upon their arrival within 10 minutes. The fire ravaged the family's possessions, scattering pages from books and charred debris on the upper floor while reducing clothes, beds, appliances and other belongings to ash.

Among the items lost were Haniff's cherished handwritten notes and journals, along with his son's graduation photos from three years ago. The family had lived in the house since 1998, since Haniff's eldest daughter was just two and a half years old. Despite the immense loss, the father and son remained accepting of the tragedy, emphasizing that the safety of their family was the most crucial aspect.

Haniff expressed the family's acceptance of the loss, emphasizing their faith and commitment to rebuilding their lives.