A Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara man died yesterday afternoon after he was trapped in his burning house having gone back in to search for his grandson.
Dead is Rajendra Mohabir called “Slowie” and “Uncle Raj” of Lot 194 Seventh 7th Street, Windsor Forest. His charred remains were found beneath the debris in the aftermath of the fire.
Stabroek News understands that the man was discovered by firefighters in a crouching position on the stairs of the building.
Apart from the building being the dwelling place of Mohabir, his wife and two sons, it also housed a small supermarket and the Touching Your World Ministries Church.
Mohabir’s wife and sons were rushed to the hospital for medical attention.
While the fire service is still investigating the cause of the fire, it was possibly electrical in nature. Reports are that the building burst into flames at around 2 pm when electricity was restored to the community after a blackout.
Assistant Pastor Ricky Roopchand yesterday told Stabroek News that he was at his home when the youths, who were in the church preparing for youth fellowship, saw sparks in the bottom flat of the building. They called him and informed him that Pastor Paul Mohabir’s home was on fire. (Pastor Paul is the dead man’s son.)
Stabroek News understands that there was an explosion followed by sparks resulting in the entire building being engulfed in flames.
“We rushed across to the home and it was fire all over. We couldn’t find Uncle Raj nowhere. So, some of us and public-spirited citizens started to break open a part where the bathroom was but we didn’t find him,” he related.
He stated that at the same time, firefighters were trying to contain the fire. Roopchand explained that they could not get into the building as there was intense heat and a vast amount of smoke.
“We just couldn’t do anything else after we didn’t find him. It was all happening so fast. The building was burning quick,” he stated.
According to Roopchand, Mohabir managed to get out one of his sons and his daughter and her son who were visiting. However, when they exited the building, he did not see his grandson, who was already outside, and rushed back into the burning building.
“He got trapped in the building. The fire spread so fast. Even though he managed to save his son and daughter through the fire the first time, he didn’t get to come back out. We found him on the stairs he didn’t had nowhere else to get out from,” Roopchand stressed.
He explained that the house is grilled and that also prevented the older Mohabir from escaping in time.
“It is very tragic that this happened. Uncle Raj was one of the nicest persons around. The entire family is so hospitable and welcoming at their home. It is sad that this happened,” Roopchand lamented.
Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, Education Minister Priya Manickchand and Minister within the Public Works Minister Deodat Indar were at the scene offering condolences and comfort to the family.
