Fire of unknown origin yesterday destroyed the home of a Unity, Mahaica businessman leaving millions in losses and six persons homeless.
Nothing was saved from the inferno that engulfed the two-storey building at Lot 19 Unity New Road just before 1pm yesterday. Businessman Shivraj Totaram called ‘Shivo’ told Stabroek News that he was not at home at the time but his wife, Chandranie Totaram and their four children were inside. He said that he had left the house at 12:10pm and just before 1pm, received a phone call telling him that his home was on fire.
He said that he rushed back but by this time, the fire had already engulfed the house. He said that the fire truck was already present but their efforts were futile as the flames quickly consumed the building. ‘Nothing nah save, nothing,” the man said, tears in his eyes as he briefed a relative. He said that losses ran into the millions and he was not even left with a change of clothes.
Totaram said that his family had to escape via the back door. A number of residents turned up to lament the loss. “He work real hard,” said one neighbour who related that Totaram started off by selling fish before starting to import items like clothing, shoes and computers for sale. Some of these items were stored in the bottom flat of the home and the destroyed items could be seen in the debris.
A sobbing Chandranie said that the fire started outside, under a shed attached to the main building. Amid tears, she recounted that she was sleeping and was awakened by her daughter who told her that the home was on fire. She said that she rushed to turn off the main switch and went to the verandah but realized that they could not escape through the front as flames had filled the home. She said that at one point she could not move but they eventually escaped through the back. “We run inside the garden and start foh holler,” she said.
Residents said that it only took a short time, between 10 to 15 minutes, for the flames to engulf the building. Many residents turned up to offer sympathy to the family and said that Totaram had worked hard to build his home and business. His four children are attending school: two in secondary, one in primary and the other in nursery.
A fire service official told Stabroek News that the cause of the fire had not been determined up to that point and investigations are continuing.
