A Hindu religious function ended tragically on the East Bank of Essequibo on Monday afternoon when four family members drowned in the river at Philadelphia.
Radika Persaud, 53, her son, Ravin, 14, of Verge-noengen and her 12-year-old nephew, Billy ‘Amit’ Narine and her niece, Annatina Persaud, 9, of Onderneeming, West Bank Demerara were at the time discarding the religious offerings from the function when they met their demise.
The incident occurred close to the koker at Philadelphia and their bodies were recovered shortly after in the same vicinity.
It is not clear how the drownings occurred but divisional commander, Marlon Chapman told this newspaper that it is suspected that they could have drowned as a result of the “strong current” in the area.
He said the matter was being investigated and that the police had been among the search team when the bodies were recovered around 8:45 pm on Monday.
Reports are that Persaud cleaned up after the function which was held earlier in observance of her mother’s first death anniversary. The children then accompanied her to the riverside to empty the remains from the rituals.
Her sister, Dhanwantie ‘Mala, Persaud, 46, who lost her grandchildren, Billy and Annatina said she became worried after they took a long time to return.
She then decided to look for them and noticed two pairs of slippers and two t-shirts belonging to the boys “by the koker side.”
Realizing that something was amiss, she rushed home to inform her daughter, Subrina Persaud, 28, (Billy and Annatina’s mother) and they returned, along with other relatives and villagers to search the area.
They then noticed Billy’s body, clad only in underpants, floating up in the water and they hurriedly retrieved it.
After that the body of Ravin came up together with his mother’s and within two minutes, Annatina’s remains were recovered.
Billy was a first form student of Houston Secondary and his sister, Annatina, attended Parfait Harmonie and was in grade four. Ravin was in fourth form at the Leonora Secondary School.
In tears, Subrina said she went to Vergenoegen with her children and her mother on Sunday afternoon to assist her aunt, Radika with the preparations.
They were supposed to leave after the function on Monday afternoon so the children could attend school yesterday but they never returned. She said sadly that she didn’t know how she would be able to return to the house without them.
Ravin’s cousin, Tharisha, described him as a willing and helpful person and said they got along very well. She was at work at ‘Chicka D’ when her sister, Shalini called to tell her that her cousins were missing.
She got a call subsequently that the children along with her aunt were found dead.
This newspaper was present when Chapman and a senior officer, Clayburn Johnson, along with a pastor, Victor Horatio visited the family to offer their condolences.
The pastor, who is associated with the police through a “Cops and Faith” project also prayed for the family. Another pastor was also there.
The project is intended to assist in “suppressing crime in the division” and according to Chapman, “it is really fruitful.”
