Retiree dies in fire

Reports are at about 4 am yesterday, loud cracking sounds awakened several residents along Papourie Road, Monkey Town in Barrackpore.

On checking, they observed the wooden and concrete structure engulfed in flames and Baboolal nowhere to be seen. Within minutes, the house was destroyed.

When police and fire officials visited the scene, they found Baboolal’s charred remains in an area which housed a bedroom.

Police said Baboolal, who lived alone, was last seen alive two hours earlier locking some doors.

The cause of fire is yet to be ascertained and investigators believe that he may have been asleep when the fire broke out.

When Newsday visited the scene yesterday, one resident explained that a loud noise awoke her and, at the time, she assumed there was a vehicular accident on the roadway.

“It was only when my daughter went outside, she saw the house on fire,” the resident said.

“Whitey was a nice fella.” Cpl Narine of the Barrackpore Police Station is continuing investigations.