A 49-year-old man, Shyam Cooshna, died in a tragic fall at a place of worship in Upper Dagotière, Mauritius, on September 29, 2026. He was working on a project at the Ammoroo Devi Aalayam, where he was responsible for washing and painting. Shyam, a married father of three, worked as an operator at Pamplemousses Hospital and did part-time jobs to support his family. His brother, Ajay, expressed deep sorrow over the incident, saying, "Mo frer finn perdi lavi kan linn al rod lavi" (My brother lost his life while going to earn a living).
According to Ajay, Shyam left their home in Montagne-Longue at 8:00 AM on the day of the incident and was expected to work at the Ammoroo Devi Aalayam. Ajay received news of the accident at around 3:30 PM and rushed to the scene. Upon arrival, he found Shyam lying on his back with severe head injuries. The SAMU (Secours Ambulancier Médico-Urgent) team confirmed Shyam's death at the scene. The post-mortem report attributed the cause of death to a cranio-cerebral injury.
The incident occurred when Shyam was working on a metal scaffolding with another worker, a foreign national. A part of the scaffolding structure gave way, causing both men to fall heavily to the ground. The other worker sustained serious injuries and was admitted to the hospital in a serious condition. The police are investigating the incident and have reviewed footage from CCTV cameras at the scene. Ajay hopes that the footage will help investigators understand the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Ajay expressed concerns about the safety of the scaffolding, stating that it did not have wooden planks, but only a thin metal sheet. He claimed that Shyam was not responsible for constructing the scaffolding. However, Devdass Vencatasamy, the president of the Ammoroo Devi Aalayam, disputed Ajay's claims, stating that Shyam was doing free cleaning work for the temple and was responsible for painting work. Vencatasamy added that Shyam had climbed the scaffolding himself and that he had explained the situation to the police.
Shyam is survived by his wife, a 23-year-old son, and two daughters aged 20 and 19. He was also a grandfather to a nearly 2-year-old granddaughter. Ajay described Shyam as a hardworking person who loved to work and help others, often doing jobs for free. The family and the temple authorities are cooperating with the police investigation, hoping that the truth behind the tragic incident will be revealed soon.
The police investigation is ongoing, and all parties involved are awaiting the results. The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, with many expressing condolences to Shyam's family. The temple authorities have expressed their sadness over the incident, describing it as a regrettable accident.
The incident raises concerns about workplace safety and the need for proper safety measures to prevent such accidents. The authorities will likely review safety protocols and regulations to prevent similar incidents in the future. The family of Shyam Cooshna continues to mourn his tragic death.
Key points
- A 49-year-old man died in a fall at a place of worship in Mauritius while working on a project.
- The incident occurred due to a faulty scaffolding structure that gave way, causing the victim and another worker to fall.
- The police investigation is ongoing, and the family is awaiting the results, hoping for justice.
