A violent fire completely destroyed Tilotma Guness’s wood-and-sheet-metal house on Route Royale in Grande Pointe aux Piments on the evening of Monday June 12. The 48-year-old woman, who works as a steward in a Balaclava hotel, was asleep when she was informed by her two sons that a fire had broken out next to the refrigerator. They tried to contain the fire, but the flames quickly spread throughout the house. They had no choice but to evacuate their home.
At around 8 p.m. on Monday June 12, the three members of the family were already in bed. At around 9:30 p.m., his son Faiz, aged 14, woke him up to inform him that there was smoke coming from the kitchen near the refrigerator. Together with his brother Yash, aged 22, they tried to put out a fire next to the fridge, which had spread to a cupboard. The flames quickly spread to other furniture and the house.
The mother and her two sons had no choice but to leave. They watched helplessly as the flames devoured their home. Meanwhile, the Triolet fire department was called to the scene. But the family lost everything: furniture, appliances, clothes and groceries.
Having lost everything, this family is appealing for help to the inhabitants of Grande Pointe aux Piments, to the inhabitants of the north and to all Mauritians who can come to their aid. This tin house was built on land belonging to Tilotma Guness’s mother. Since this morning, they have been living precariously with their mother and grandmother respectively. The 22-year-old son works in a boat house in Balaclava, while his 14-year-old brother attends a specialized school. Tilotma Guness is the mother of four children, her daughter is married and another son, aged 23, lives in Mare d’Albert.
An investigation has been launched at the Trou aux Biches police station to shed light on the exact circumstances surrounding the fire. Forensic technicians went to the scene to collect clues to help determine the origin of the fire. Technicians from the Central Electricity Board (CEB) were on hand to disconnect the house from the power grid.
