A young child perished while three persons were left homeless yesterday following a tragic morning fire at Vryheid’s Lust Squatting Area on the East Coast Demerara.
The dead toddler, 30-month old Nicholas Maraj is one of three children who were being cared for by their grandmother Pulmattie Singh, a housewife who has been living in the area for about 10 years.
Singh was not at home when the fire started around 08:30 hrs as she had left to carry another grandchild to school. Nicholas remained at home with his six-year old brother.
The child’s great grandmother Khatoon Ally, who lives in another house located in the compound, said she saw the blaze but was unable to do anything to save the child. According to Ally, the house did not have electricity.
According to the Guyana Fire Service the fire was caused by the children playing with matches.