Story Created:
Oct 9, 2012 at 10:01 PM ECT
Story Updated:
Oct 10, 2012 at 11:50 AM ECT
A 62-YEAR-old retired teacher died in a fire that destroyed his home at Freeport yesterday.
The body of Vishnu Maharaj, of Arena Road Village, was discovered burnt beyond recognition, in a gutted bedroom.
A family of three, and another man who rented separate apartments on the ground floor of the house, have been left homeless.
Freeport police said that at around 5 a.m. they were called to Maharaj's home. When they arrived, the house was engulfed in flames.
Tenants Parbatie Williams, her husband and teenaged daughter escaped. The other tenant, Afzal Mohammed, was at work.
Fire officers found Maharaj's body on a bed. It is suspected the fire started in the bedroom.
Mohammed, 39, a security guard, said when he was leaving home for work around 4.30 p.m. on Monday he spoke to Maharaj.
"We just talked a few minutes. He was a lonely person and he needed to chat with people. He kept to himself a lot," he said.
Mohammed said when he was returning home from work a taxi-driver informed him that the house had burned down, and Maharaj had died.
"He used to light a deya every day. I saw it in the kitchen," said Mohammed.
Mohammed said he lost at least $50,000 in appliances, household items, clothing and other valuables.
Anyone who is willing to lend assistance to Mohammed can contact the Express at 652-2900 extension 2722.
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