DUSHANBE , January 19, Asia-Plus - No one of neighbors participated in pulling children the burning building of the “Chorbogh” orphanage and seven firefighting crews arrived in the site of the fire in 15 minutes after the fire broke out, Tajik Interior Minister, Khumdin Sharipov remarked at a news conference in Dushanbe on January 19.  

According to him, the orphanage’s employees, who were on duty that time, and servicemen of a convoy platoon who were near to the site of tragedy pulled children from the burning building.  

“No one of residents of this mahalla went out to help in saving children,” the minister stated, adding that 65 servicemen of the firefighting service and seven fire-engines arrived in the site of the fire in 15 minutes after the fire broke out.  

He confirmed that short circuit had caused the fire.  

“This building was not fit for dwelling,” said the minister, “Since the majority (60 percent) of children living in the orphanage were bed-ridden with intellectual disabilities, under the regulations nurses should be with them, but unfortunately no one nurse was in the dormitory, where 13 children were killed in the fire.”  

He noted that last year, the firefighting service four times prepared documents that the building was not fit for exploitation.