A family heartbroken: Remembering Old Montreal fire victim, Saniya Khan
Posted March 24, 2023 3:25 pm.
Last Updated March 24, 2023 6:45 pm.
Saniya Khan, 32, from Detroit, is one the victims of the fatal March 16 fire in Old Montreal.
She and her longtime friend, Dania Zafar — also among the missing — were staying in an Airbnb in the building while on a visit to the city.
Investigators continued to search the rubble Friday, looking for the remains of victims. Seven people died in the fire and authorities don’t believe any additional victims are in there.
“We have no information indicating that it could be somebody else. It’s not impossible, but we feel that it’s improbable at this point that we find somebody else,” said David Shane, Montreal police.
Saniya’s father, Mazhar Khan, described his daughter — a master’s student in public health at Wayne State University in Detroit — as selfless.
“She was a very dedicated person towards her family. She was the eldest of my four children. So she would be there for all others, whether it’s advice or other contributions, it’s time or effort. She will always be there,” said Khan.
Saniya Khan (Photo Credit: Mazhar Khan)
“She would love sightseeing. And so they planned for a short visit only for one day and come back to Toronto from where I would be cut up. And we go back to Detroit. So it was only a one-day trip, but unfortunately, that’s her last.”
Khan says it’s been difficult living in a world without his firstborn.
“Every corner of my house reminds me of her. when I look at her shoes and I look at her dresses.”
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He’s been waiting in agony for news about his daughter’s remains.
“I would like to bring her back to Detroit where we live so that she is near to where we live, so I could visit her.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but Khan wants accountability soon.
“Whosoever is responsible, the building owner, the city administration or the renting app. All of them. They should be brought to justice. There should be a thorough inquiry. Yeah. So that these things never happen again to any other daughter.”
A void now left in the Khan family.
“I could not even imagine this is what had happened to her. So we all miss her too much, actually. We all share her memories.”
