Pensioner, 70, dies in fire

Her husband, Nandlal Boodan, 75, was able to save himself as fire spread through their two- storey concrete house.

A tenant, Himraj Rampersad, 40, and his wife Amrita, 23, who lived downstairs also escaped the fire but they too lost all of their possessions.

Damage to the house has been estimated at about $150,000. Losses in household items and Boodan’s Nissan Sunny car amounted to another $150,000. An estimated $20,000 in cash and $40,000 worth of medical supplies were also destroyed in the fire.

The cash belonged to one of the elderly couple’s daughters Marie Nandlal, who arrived from Surrey, England on Thursday to help finance Sumariah’s mounting medical bills. The medical supplies were also brought in for Sumariah, who suffered from renal failure and was a stroke victim.

Boodan explained that his wife spent most of her time in bed, and would “change bags (to collect urine)” at about 11 each night. He said he was sleeping in another room when at about 3 am yesterday he heard her screaming, “Fire, fire, fire.”

When he checked, he saw the mattress she was lying on was on fire. He said he tried to save her but the heat was too much for him and he had to retreat. He raised an alarm, but by the time Rampersad heard him, all everyone could do was save themselves.

Firemen of the Princes Town Fire Station responded to the call and arrived on the scene about 20 minutes later, but by then the house had been gutted.

The firemen found Sumariah’s body with one of her hands covering her face.

A relative said he believed Sumariah had a lighted deya in her room, but could not say if that was the cause of the fire.

Sumariah and Boodan have been married for 55 years and had nine children and 21 grandchildren.

Their daughter Marie said she returned home after 18 years abroad to visit her mother and to “put a smile on her face.” Instead, Marie and her family have to prepare for Sumariah’s cremation. Princes Town police and fire officials are investigating.