Well-known Penal electrician Doodnath Bhimull was already dead when a hot-oil blower from a bitumen plant blew up in his face last Sunday. This was revealed by an autopsy done at the Forensic Science Centre in St James, showing Bhimull died from electrocution. Police said an electrical surge killed Bhimull around 4 pm, and when the hot-oil blower exploded, Bhimull's body was pitched against a fuel tank about five feet away, at Mora Dam Road, Siparia.
The blower feeds fuel into the bitumen tank, which heats up to 300 degrees Celsius. Bhimull's employer Ramnanan Gowkaran, who owns Gowkaran Transport and General Contractors Ltd, suffered minor burns to the hands. He was treated and discharged.
The tank did not explode as another employee, Ramrattan Basdeo, quickly used dirt to put out the fire. Bhimull would have celebrated his 50th birthday today and his wife Seeta and three children-Kishan, 25, Kiran, 13, and Kishana, 24-planned to hold Hindu prayers in celebration of his life.
Instead, the family will organise Bhimull's funeral today, after which he will be cremated at the Mosquito Creek's Shore of Peace at La Romaine. The Occupational Safety and Health Agency has since launched an investigation into the accident. Supt Franklin Sampath and PC Kishore Maharaj are continuing enquiries.
