Meghalaya church, adjacent house gutted in fire, 2 killed

Shillong: An elderly couple died when a century-old church and an adjacent house in Meghalaya's capital were gutted in a devastating fire early on Sunday, police said.

The couple, residing in the house, could have died of asphyxiation and a preliminary investigation has ruled out vandalism, police said.

East Khasi Hills district SP Claudia Lyngwa said the incident was reported at around 4 am and three fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the blaze. An investigation has been initiated to ascertain the exact cause of fire, Lyngwa said.

The 117-year-old church at Qualapatty area was reduced to ashes and the fire could be due to an electrical short- circuit as the church was undergoing large-scale repair work, the eyewitnesses said.