In the incident at about 5am at a double-storey terrace house in Eastern Garden, A Vimala, 53, said she was awakened from her sleep by the alert female puppy.

She suddenly realised that a fire was raging in the middle of the house where the family usually performed their prayers.

“I was half awake initially. I thought my puppy was acting the way she did because she was thirsty. So, I told her to go to the kitchen.

“But I came to my full senses and became aware of the fire in the house as Anandaveli continued to frantically drag my leg.

“I screamed at my children Raaghi, 23, Prakash, 22 and Vimalan, 18, to save themselves by running out of the house,” she said.

Upon running out of the house, she realised that her husband N Marimuthu Naidu, 58, who was partially paralysed, was still in a room at the back of the house with the fire still blazing.

“I told my youngest son Vimalan to save his father. He risked his life running through the inferno and carried his father out of the house in time,” said Vimala, adding that they were putting up at her mother’s house in Jalan Laksamana for now.

Pasir Bedamar state assemblyman Terence Naidu said the fire was doused by a team of 12 firemen in two fire engines from the Teluk Intan fire and rescue station at about 6.30am.

“We will help Vimala and her family with food and money, and get assistance for her from the disaster fund at the district office. We will also try to get a People’s Housing Project housing unit for the family,” he added.