Two Mauritians have died in total indifference in Paris. Doomitra Mohanpersad, 32, and her five year-old daughter, Shana, were found dead in their flat in Aubervilliers, a Paris suburb, last week. But their death goes back to much earlier ? one to four months ago ? and no one had realised they were no longer around. The medical report has revealed they both died of hunger but has made it clear it was a natural death.

The watchman of the building called the police at the beginning of last week when he started to see flies on the balcony of their flat. When the police found their bodies, they were already in an advanced state of decomposition. Doomitra?s body weighed twenty-five kg and Shana?s six kg and neither had any trace of food in their bodies. The refrigerator was empty and all windows and doors locked from inside. The police did not find a trace of food inside the flat.

The enquiry tends to show that Doomitra starved herself as well as her daughter to death. According to the authorities, she received the minimum revenue from the state, which should have been enough for her to buy food. Moreover, the town social services said they were helping her to pay her electricity bill and her rent. Hence, there was no reason for her not to buy any food.

Her family in Mauritius don?t understand how no one realised they had disappeared. Even the authorities in Paris have not yet understood how Shana?s pre-primary school did not find it strange that the child had been absent for four months. One of Doomitra?s relatives, Sheila, is sad that she was not able to help her. ?If only I had known she was having problems, I would have helped her. But, unfortunately, I do not think she remembered me. Since this tragedy has occurred, I can?t sleep or concentrate. They must have suffered a lot.?

Doomitra actually arrived in France with her mother when she was only a little girl. She grew up there and only came to Mauritius on holiday once. A few years ago, she had been working in a crèche in Paris but finally left to care for her child, Shana. French authorities say that she ?seemed to be want to succeed and had the means to do so?. ?Her situation may have been difficult but not desperate,? added Roland Taysse, Aubervilliers mayor. The unnoticed death of these two Mauritians seems to be a mystery for many?