An elderly homeowner and businessman perished in an early morning fire that completely destroyed a building along Main Street, Georgetown.

77-year-old, Yussuf Sankar, was in the building along with a female relative when the fire broke out just before 6:00am.

While the woman managed to escape, Sankar could not be accounted for as firefighters battled the blaze.

The heavy rainfall at the time assisted the firemen in containing the blaze to the Main Street building, which was located just next door to the Prime Minister’s official residence. 

Sankar’s son who lived with him said he was on his way to the airport to collect another relative when he received information that the building was on fire.

Upon his return, he noticed smoke billowing from the back of the building where his father was and where the bedrooms are situated.

The elderly Sankar had recently completed a surgery and was at home recuperating.

Some family members and workers who rushed down to the scene were left in complete shock. An investigation has been launched. The cause of the fire is unknown.