THE body of 28-year-old Vidyanand Singh, who lived at Lot 12 Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo and died in a boat crash off Hogg Island, along the Essequibo River last Friday, was buried at Zeelugt Cemetery, East Bank Essequibo, yesterday afternoon.
Earlier in the day, an autopsy was performed on the body at Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) mortuary.
Hours before the funeral service, which was conducted according to Muslim rites, Singh’s body lay in repose under a canopy outside his home, where family members and scores of villagers paid him their last respects.
Among them were his wife Annie and their 15-month-old son Ameer, his aunt Bibi Shahiddan, uncles and other immediate family, all consumed with grief over his tragic death.
It happened shortly before 18:00 hrs on Friday when a boat ferrying six employees of Shafeek Khan Construction Company was run over by another motor vessel in the Essequibo River, while they were returning from their workplace at Hogg Island, to Parika, also on the East Bank of Essequibo.
The job on which they were engaged was being undertaken for the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), to construct a sluice on Wakenaam island.
Survivors of the tragedy recalled that, shortly after their journey started, they observed the other vessel travelling in the opposite direction. Piloted by John Kennedy of Karia Karia, it appeared to be foundering and Khan’s Captain, James Sennasie and his passengers tried to avoid the collision.
However, each time they steered out of the way of the oncoming vessel, it changed course and headed towards them. Realising that danger was imminent, the men claimed they pulled aside near a clump of bushes, to allow the seemingly ill-fated vessel to proceed on its way but, instead, it ran head on into theirs.
Singh suffered severe injuries to his face, head and other parts of his body and was hurled into the murky waters and disappeared in the Essequibo River.
His corpse was recovered by Police early Saturday morning.
Seriously injured in the mishap, as well, was Herronimo Dookram, 69, who remains warded, in a critical condition, at the GPH. Like Singh, Dookram is suffering injuries to his face.
Two others, less seriously hurt, were sent away after being examined at the same hospital. They were Senassie and Kumeen Hussain, 41.
Police are likely to charge a man who was detained in the police investigations.