By Subhana Shiwmangal
A Success Squatting Area, East Coast Demerara couple was found dead yesterday after being shocked by an exposed, illegally run electricity line.
The dead persons were identified as Sarojanie (Tasha) Hansraj, 32, a midwife at the Georgetown Public Hospital and her common law husband, Prahalad Jagnarine, 39, a taxi driver. They resided at 4D South Success, East Coast Demerara with their child.
The exposed electrical wire extended from a utility post to their home. It was later disconnected by Guyana Power and Light (GPL) workers.
The deceased couple’s neighbour, Noreen Sewsarran told Stabroek News that normally when Jagnarine, an amputee, drinks he would called for Tasha to assist him out of the car. She said around 9:20 pm on Sunday the car lights flashed so she didn’t get up and check because it was an indication that the couple had arrived home.
Sewsarran added that she heard Jagnarine calling for Tasha three times but there was no response, only the noise of the dog barking. She and her son decided to look through the window to see what had transpired but they saw nothing.
Around 6:45 am yesterday she went downstairs and saw the couple’s child crying and running towards her after seeing her mother and father on the ground. Sewsarran then called for help.
GPL’s Director for Safety and Management, Gary Hall told Stabroek News that the electrocution was a result of a wire being exposed due to an illegal connection from a prepaid box.
Hall said that when he and his safety crew arrived at the scene they disconnected the illegal wires. He said that the electrocution occurred as a result of the wire being exposed to water. He added that it was very sad and unfortunate.
A police report said that when the bodies were examined, burn marks were seen on the neck, chest, and right wrist of Jagnarine, and on the left wrist and left side of Hansraj’s torso.
The report further stated that the red and black wires that were seen next to the two bodies were connected to an electrical post leading to their home. The report added that GPL and Emergency Medical Technicians were summoned to the scene. The couple was pronounced dead by Dr. Dourga and escorted to the mortuary for Post-Mortem Examinations.
