Relatives and neighbors of carpenter Taranpersad Balkaran remained baffled yesterday as to how his house burnt flat in the dead of the night, with him still inside it.
Balkaran’s charred remains were found by fire officers who responded to a report of a house fire in Sundrees Road, Penal, around 12.25 am yesterday.
Balkaran, 53, was affectionately known as ‘Kosh.’
In an interview with the Sunday Guardian, Balkaran’s sister-in-law, Indra Ramgewan described him as loving and hardworking and said the family was in shock over his death.
However, she said his two vices, alcohol and cigarettes, may have caused the fire that took his life.
“I know he took a few drinks yesterday evening and he used to smoke,” she said. “We’re not sure but it could be that he was smoking and fell asleep and that caused the fire to start.”
“I don’t know how or why he didn’t try to come out of the house or run or anything though.”
She said although Balkaran had no children of his own, he would spend his Christmas and other holidays with her five grandchildren.
“They might be the ones to miss him the most, he would always come and look for them. Every Christmas, birthday, everything, he made sure to get them something.”
She could not say when the funeral service would be held for Balkaran.
His body was taken to the Forensic Science Centre for an autopsy tomorrow.
Eyewitness account
Balkaran’s neighbour, Alisha Hosein said she awoke shortly after 12 am and heard a loud ‘swooshing’ noise.
“It sounded like how the wind sounds during a hurricane,” she said. “Then I heard something fall and shatter and I looked out my window and saw our truck on fire.
“By the time I called out to my father and we ran downstairs, his house was well engulfed in flames. The fire officers only found him after the fire was put out.”
She explained that Balkaran, 53, lived next to her family’s home as her grandfather had given him the piece of land 23 years ago to build a house.
One of her father’s trucks which was parked close to Balkaran’s 15 x 20 wooden home was completely destroyed by the fire. Another truck and a hilux van were also damaged, and the galvanise covering a shed next to Balkaran’s home was also damaged.
Hosein estimated the family’s losses to be over $.7 million.