Mother of two dies after reportedly setting house alight

By Royan Abrams

The flattened dwelling

A Corentyne Mother of two lost her life late Monday afternoon after reportedly setting the building she called home on fire. while her two children 13 and 11 years old were in the lower flat playing. Dead is 30 year old Savita Sooknanand of No.64 Village Corentyne, Berbice.
BIG Smith Crime Watch was informed that fire started sometime around 16:45 hours while her husband who works as a carpenter was away fending for the family.

The husband of the dead, 42 year old Jairam Sooknanand related that his 13 year old daughter raced to his workplace to inform him that the house was on fire. As a result he took his pedal cycle and rushed home and removed his motor car from under the building and attempted to help his wife out the building but the fire was too much.

“I went to work this morning and came back at lunch then leave her at home with the children, she does drink sometimes at home and when she drink she does start misbehave and cuss and quarrel” he related.

He added that he jumped on the shed to pull his wife out but could not reached her although she was stretching her hands for help. He noted that he could not go any closer as the blaze was intensifying.

When this publication arrived on the scene fire fighters were seen battling the blaze while attempting to save nearby buildings, after the mopping up exercise, the charred remains of the woman were removed from among the ashes.

Residents gather helplessly as the house is gutted

Jairam said nothing was save from the building. He added that he took his wife to visit a doctor a result of the drinking problem his wife had but that did not help. He related that he also visited the pro anti in officer to get custody of the children as his wife’s behavior was getting out of control.

Big Smith Crime Watch was informed that the woman had attempted to set the house ablaze on two previous occasions but it was put out by neighbors.