The Head of Criminal Investigations Department at Nsanje police, Assistant Superintendent Michael Phiri, has died after his house caught fire last night.

The incident was confirmed by National Police Spokesperson, Senior Superintendent Peter Kalaya, who stated that the officer’s body was discovered burnt in the kitchen.

According to Kalaya, the officer was alone in the house as his family was away. Efforts by the police and neighbors to put out the fire yielded no tangible results, and property whose value is not known at the moment was also burnt.

Although an electrical fault is suspected to have caused the fire, Kalaya was quick to mention that an official investigation is currently underway to reveal the real cause of the inferno.

The death of Assistant Superintendent Michael Phiri has left the police and the community in shock, and tributes have been pouring in for the late officer.