Police say a deadly house fire in East Vancouver on Saturday night was caused by arson.
The scorched residence is the same home owned by a senior citizen killed earlier that day by a runaway bus.
Nanjar Dhesi, 75, died after she fell out of a bus that started rolling backwards down a hill on Ross Street.
Dhesi, a volunteer for the Ross Street Sikh Temple, was boarding to go on an annual group trip to Harrison Hot Springs when the vehicle started to move.
It was initially believed Dhesi suffered only minor injuries but she died en route to the hospital. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.
Fire broke out in Dhesi’s home on East 63rd Ave. later that day, around 5 p.m.
After crews knocked back the blaze and entered the residence, they found the body of a man who had been living in the basement suite.
Detectives have now determined that fire was deliberately set and the person’s death is being treated as suspicious.
The age, gender and race of the victim will be released following an autopsy by the BC Coroners Service.
More than 20 people lived in the home, according to Dhesi’s niece, Rajwant Toor. She said they’re all now staying with relatives.
“This time is really bad for us,” said Toor. “One thing is our aunt passed away, and the other thing is our house burned down, and now they tell us [there’s] a body found downstairs.”
Anyone with information about the fire is asked to contact the Vancouver Police Major Crime Section at (604) 717-2500.
