Double tragedy for Penal family (with CNC3 video)

While preparing for his father’s funeral, Krishna Sooknanan and his family suffered a double tragedy when their home went up in flames. The house located at Bunsee Trace, Penal, was totally destroyed as there was no water to fight the fire. The funeral took place yesterday outside the charred ruins of the house.

Sooknanan said friends and family had to pool money to pay for the cremation of his father, Sooknanan Siew. The funeral was held under two white tents. Sooknanan, who lives in the Prime Minister’s constituency, expressed disappointment at the lack of support from government agencies.

He said when his 75-year-old father passed away on Friday, he called the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation to get a tank of water for the wake because the area did not have a pipe-borne supply. However, he was told water could not be delivered because there was no driver available.

“If we had water that morning, we would have saved the house. Imagine this is the Prime Minister’s constituency and we cannot get water here,” Sooknanan complained. He said his father died around 8 am on Friday and a few hours later, smoke started billowing from the house. 

Sooknanan’s wife, Ashamatee, said, “There was nothing we could do. I was washing clothes and I smell something burning but I thought someone was lighting grass. Then when I checked the windows started to shatter. We started to look for water to dash on the house but there was none. Everything get engulfed before the fire fighters came.”

Triple tragedy for south family

A total of $19,000 which was withdrawn from the bank for the funeral, as well as rented tents, tables and chairs for the wake and every piece of his family’s belongings were completely destroyed. A councillor from the corporation visited and offered to give the family two mattresses. However, Sooknanan said they did not get any further assistance. 

“We are sleeping by relatives. We have no clothes, all of the child school books, uniform burnt. We really need help,” Ashamatee said. Anyone wanting to help the family can call 482-7528/397-0234.