Four drown at Philadelphia

Commander of ‘D’ Division, Marlon Chapman (second from right) with senior officer, Clayburn Johnson and the pastors consoling Subrina and her mother (sitting)

A Hindu religious function ended tragically on the East Bank of Essequibo on Monday afternoon when four family members drowned in the river at Philadelphia.

Radika Persaud, 53, her son, Ravin, 14, of Verge-noengen and her 12-year-old nephew, Billy ‘Amit’ Narine and her niece, Annatina Persaud, 9, of Onderneeming, West Bank Demerara were at the time discarding the religious offerings from the function when they met their demise.

The incident occurred close to the koker at Philadelphia and their bodies were recovered shortly after in the same vicinity.

It is not clear how the drownings occurred but divisional commander,