The whole island of Mauritius is plunged into mourning, this Thursday, February 16. A kanwar, 8 meters high, that was being transported by a group of pilgrims from Albion returning from the sacred lake of Grand-Bassin caught fire after hitting a high voltage line on the Mare-Longue road. This fire caused a battery inside the kanwar to explode. About 15 people were injured and were evacuated to Victoria Hospital in Candos and Jawaharlall Nehru Hospital in Rose-Belle. Rohan Doorja, 21, and Parmessur Dookiah, 37, did not survive their burns. Another person was placed in an intensive care unit and his condition is a cause for concern.
Scene of panic on the road of Mare-Longue around 3:30 pm this Thursday, February 16. A kanwar was in flames after a battery inside exploded. This after this Kanwar touched a high voltage line. These pilgrims from Albion were returning home after completing the pilgrimage to Grand-Bassin. It was on the road to Mare-Longue that this accident occurred. Nine people, who were inside kanwar, were the most affected.
Immediately, the rescue services were organized to give first aid to the injured. This was after they were transported to a Medical Post by volunteers from St John Ambulance. Personnel from the Emergency Medical Service (SAMU) then took over to transport the injured to the hospital in Candos and Rose-Belle. Rohan Doorja succumbed to his injuries shortly after arriving at the hospital in Candos while Parmessur Dookiah died at the hospital in Rose-Belle.
Following this tragedy, Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, who was scheduled to leave the country on the evening of Thursday, February 16 for Ethiopia to attend the 36th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, canceled his departure. The Human Service Trust cancelled its function in Grand Bassin last night, the Youth concert also cancelled.
An investigation has been initiated at the police level to shed light on the exact circumstances of this tragedy. An autopsy was performed on the bodies of Rohan Doorja and Parmessur Dookiah in the evening of Thursday, February 16 at the Candos Hospital morgue by Dr. Prem Chamane, Principal Police Medical Officer.
The Commissioner of Police (CP) Anil Kumar Dip, who was speaking on the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) news at 7:30 pm, said that an investigation is underway to shed light on the tragedy that occurred on Thursday afternoon.
