Pensioner injured after high voltage sparks fire at Leonora house
A 65-year-old man was on Saturday injured after a fire erupted at his Leonora, West Coast Demerara (WCD) home following a period of high voltage in the area.
Palpoo Ram is suffering burns about his hands, feet, and abdomen.
An injured Palpoo Ram at his home after being treated
Reports are that during the wee hours of Saturday, the man was watching television in his living room, but then fell asleep.
His wife, Shanta, told Guyana Times that around midnight, her daughter got up to start making snacks to sell in the market.
The woman explained that at the same time, she got up and lowered the volume of the television and went back to bed. However, shortly after, she heard her husband calling out for fire.
“Me open meh eye and meh see the whole inside red, red, red and me run out…and me start holler,” the woman related.
After hearing the screams, persons from the neighbourhood rushed to assist and started to put out the blaze.
“They run with bucket and bottle and they start throw the water…they get it to out…but meh husband get bad, bad burn; he two foot, he belly, he hand. He belly and he foot deh real bad,” the woman explained.
The burnt sofa
The fire also scorched the house’s roof and floor, and destroyed the television set, a fan, the sofa, and the wall-divider. Ram was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was treated and sent away.
Shortly after the incident, the family contacted the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc as well as a private electrician.
The electrician arrived first and tested the voltage, which had a reading of 269V. When GPL arrived around midday on Saturday, technicians conducted another test which had a reading of 259V. Shanta said a second test conducted shortly after by the GPL technicians showed a reading of 237V.
The television that was damaged by the high voltage
She said she was advised to go to a GPL office and fill out a form for redress, but she has not yet done so.
“They say fuh go in [to the office], but me nah know how to full the form. So, what me gon go and do deh?” Shanta contended.
According to the woman, it was a terrifying experience for the family and she called on GPL to ensure the service being provided to consumers was safe.
“What happen to we could happen to anybody…we got to thank God that nothing more worse happen to we,” she noted.
Attempts to contact the Public Relations Department of the power company proved futile.
