-man dies days after wife passed away from burns
Fifty-eight-year-old Manoo Sookoo yesterday succumbed to injuries he suffered on January 4th in a gas explosion at Foulis which also claimed the life of his wife Basmatie Ganpat. His wife died three days ago.
Sookhoo died at approximately 5:45 pm while hospitalized at the Georgetown Public Hospital’s (GPH) Burn Care Unit, his step- daughter Sandhya Goolram told Stabroek News. His post-mortem examination is to be done on Friday.
She also said that the post-mortem examination for her mother Basmatie Ganpat revealed she died as a result of infected burns. Goolram relayed to SN that she experienced some hardship at the mortuary yesterday morning when she was told the post-mortem examination for Basmatie was to be further delayed, however, this was quickly resolved. She also shared with SN that she was hoping to have the funeral for her mother this Saturday to be able to take her needed leave from work but then Sookoo passed away.
In an interview with Stabroek News on Sunday, January 5th, Goolram explained that when she arrived at the scene on Saturday morning, her stepfather was already in the ambulance, while neighbours were assisting her mother out of the yard. Goolram detailed her parents’ account of what transpired when they ventured into the kitchen on Saturday morning. They stated that they could both smell gas in the kitchen, and as a result, her stepfather went to open the door while her mother turned on the stove which set off an explosion. Goolram said her mother was attempting to use a two-burner, table-top gas stove. She said that while her mother assumed that the (stove) knob was probably turned on before use, the (gas bottle) regulator was off at the time. The couple lived in a two-storey wooden and concrete house. The upper flat contained the living room and bedroom while the lower flat housed the kitchen.
Stabroek News visited the Foulis residence where the incident occurred at about 5:45 am on January 4th, 2025 at Lot 194 Fifth Street and found that the lower flat that housed the kitchen was devastated. The concrete walls were shattered, the pillars had shifted and some were broken. The roof that covered the living room area had been blown away. Kitchen equipment, utensils, and other household items were broken.
Following a query from this newspaper Massy Gas company issued a statement in which it said it remained confident in the safety and quality of the products that leave their plant.
“To deliver safe products, we first ensure the safety of our employees, the safety of the surrounding community where the plant is located, the safety of our dealers, and finally, the safety of the homes and families where our Liquefied Petroleum Gas (cooking gas) products are used. We were recently audited for certification to ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety Management System) and ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System). We were already certified for ISO 9001: 2015 (Quality Management Systems),” the statement said.
Massy further stated that it had asked the Ministry of Labour’s Occupational Safety and Health Department to do an audit.
According to Goolram, Massy Gas officials informed her that the bottles were tested and proven to be okay. The officials further told the family that the couple had been using a faulty regulator. “They said that it was a GuyGas head and not a Massy regulator,” she revealed.
In response to this incident, Massy launched a Gas Awareness and Safety campaign that focuses on key issues surrounding safety. The awareness and safety messages include – Smart Storage: Keep your cylinder standing tall in a cool, open space, far from heat and curious little hands. Never store cylinders in enclosed spaces (cupboards). Leak Test: Soap it up! A quick soap-water test helps you observe any leaks when you have connected your regulator to the cylinder. If a leak is observed check the valve rubber for cracks. If intact, check to ensure the regulator is properly connected to the cylinder valve. Regular Inspection: Your Kosan regulator is the best partner for Massy Gas cylinders. Inspect both the hose and cylinder to ensure everything is in top shape. Regular Checking: Check the rubber seal of the valve for cracks or damage. Don’t use it if it is worn. Turn off stove knobs: Always remember to turn off your stove knob and regulator when the stove is not in use and when you are changing out a cylinder.
Fire Chief Gregory Wickham had also told Stabroek News that the knob of the stove was left on and a high concentration of gas had filled the room. As the woman lit the stove, he concluded, an explosion occurred.
The Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission of the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce has launched an investigation following critical injuries to consumers and severe damage to property.
