A massive fire that broke out this morning at a 117-year-old church in Shillong has killed an elderly couple, police said, adding that the century-old church was damaged in the blaze. According to the locals, a massive blaze broke out at the Church of God at Qualapatty at around 4 am. Senior police office C Lyngwa said that an elderly couple died in the fire. The two may have died due to suffocation as their house was located very close to the church, according to the police. The elderly couple's pet dog also died in the fire. The church is surrounded by several houses.

A massive fire that broke out this morning at a 117-year-old church in Shillong has killed an elderly couple, police said, adding that the century-old church was damaged in the blaze. According to the locals, a massive blaze broke out at the Church of God at Qualapatty at around 4 am. Senior police office C Lyngwa said that an elderly couple died in the fire. The two may have died due to suffocation as their house was located very close to the church, according to the police. The elderly couple's pet dog also died in the fire. The church is surrounded by several houses.