Family of four drowns at Philadelphia koker during "puja wuk"

A Philadelphia East Bank Essequibo family has been plunged into deep mourning following the drowning of four family members late on Monday afternoon.

The incident took place at the Philadelphia koker while the family was performing a one year “puja” for their grandmother who passed away in March 2014. The family members were performing the ritual in keeping with their religious beliefs.

Dead are 53-year-old Radica Persaud, her son 14-year old Ravin Persaud, niece Anatina Persaud who was 9-years-old and her nephew, 12-year-old Billy Narine. Their bodies were found Monday evening, just hours after they had gone to the koker to let out offerings into the sea.

News Source spoke to Mala Persaud on Tuesday morning about the family tragedy. Mala is a sister of the dead woman Radica Persaud and the grandmother of Billy Narine and Anatina. Fighting back tears, Mala explained that her sister headed down to the koker at the sea just around 4 pm on Tuesday. She said the children went along with her to assist but when she did not see them return at 5 o’ clock, she decided to go see what was taking them so long.

“When I went down there, I saw no one but I saw my grandson and my nephew’s shirts and slippers on the side near the sea and I said they probably went out to take a swim so I returned home”.

But Mala said she began to realise that something had gone wrong when another hour passed and she did not see the family return. Accompanied by other family members, Mala said she went down to the sea side as the tide was going out. She said they were shocked when they noticed the body of her grandson.

She explained that she raised an alarm and other villagers rushed down to the sea side and they began a frantic search. The bodies of the other three persons were found nearby.

“I cannot understand it. I do not know how all four of them drowned. I said maybe they went to swim but for all four of them to drown while swimming is very strange and we just cannot understand it at all”

News Source was told that the flowers and other items that were apart of the puja were already thrown out at sea. The bodies were taken to a funeral home and the Guyana Police Force has launched a probe into the tragedy.

Filed: 3rd January, 2015