By Ivan Pereira
The Boodram family lost everything when their Floral Park home was destroyed in an accidental explosion in April, but they said they found some solace Monday when the city voted to honor their slain mother.
The City Council voted 42-5 to rename 70 streets in New York, including 260th Street between 80th and 81st avenues in Floral Park to “Ghanwatti Boodram Way.” Boodram, 40, was inside her home April 24 when a Con Edison gas line outside her street exploded, destroying her house and a neighbor’s home.
Dindial Boodram, 46, who like his wife is a Guyanese immigrant, broke down in the Council chambers as the measure was approved.
“She will never be with us again, but it will be something in her honor,” said Dindial Boodram, who was with his three sons, Ryan, 11; Kevin, 8; and Chris, 7.
The three boys were at school at PS 115 during the time of the blast while Dindial Boodram was away at work.
Councilman Mark Weprin (D-Hollis), who sponsored the legislation for the street renaming, said the name change served as a way to honor the hard work and devotion the mother gave not only to her family, but also to the community.
In 1988, Ghanwatti Boodram emigrated to Woodside at the age of 19 to study nursing at LaGuardia Community College. She worked as a nurse at St. Luke’s Hospital in Manhattan and, according to family members, would help sick relatives anytime they needed it.
About 11 years ago, Ghanwatti Boodram married Dindial Boodram and the couple settled in a one-family home on 260th Street in Floral Park to start a family. While living in the neighborhood, she took part in several community activities, including the PTA of PS 115, where her sons were good students.
Weprin pointed out that she was a strong member of the Guyanese community and hundreds of friends and family from her native land came to Queens for her funeral.
“I believe it is time we afford her with that same affection,” the councilman said.
The explosion set off an outcry from the community and elected officials for Con Edison to change the way it investigates service outages. The explosion started after Boodram’s neighbor called the utility to say the electricity was faulty and she smelled gas.
While an inspector was checking out a manhole for the cause of the problems, the explosion occurred.
The utility now conducts door-to-door checks and evacuations if it discovers a dangerous gas leak. Last month, the state Public Service Commission, gave nine recommendations to Con Edison on how to better handle similar emergencies, including “dispatching personnel to emergencies with emphasis on giving higher priority to emergencies than to routine matters.”
Dindial Boodram said he has been grateful for the support he has received from the community since the accident and said his wife would have been proud to be remembered for her accomplishments.
“I really think this will be a lot of good to add,” he said of the street renaming.
Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 146.
