Couple perish in Parika fire

A couple reportedly perished during the early hours of Sunday morning after a fire ripped through their Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) house.

Dead are Haywattie Bahadur called ‘Hema’, a 52-year-old teacher and her husband, Hansraj Narain known as ‘Jermone’, a 57-year-old bus driver.

Reports are that the fire started sometime around 01:45 hrs at the couple’s Lot 1A Hyrdonie, EBE house.

The couple were reportedly trapped in the single flat house which was grilled.

Information gathered by the News Room revealed that after the fire broke out, persons nearby responded. In doing so, they called out for the couple but got no response.

Police Headquarters in a statement said ranks responded to a call of a fire by an unknown caller.

Upon arrival at the scene, Police said the building was engulfed.

So the Guyana Fire Service was summoned.

“Sub-Officer Fraser and four other ranks from the Leonora Fire Station responded with Fire Tenders #84 and #81.

“On arrival, they went into action and extinguished the fire. However, by then the entire house was already gutted,” Police Headquarters said.

The bodies of the couple were subsequently found among the debris along with a dog.

The bodies were taken to the Ezekiel Funeral Home for post-mortem examinations.

Police said an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire.