By Nakasia Logan
December 13, 2024
Efforts are underway by the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) to restore electricity to residents along Aubrey Barker Road by tonight.
The disruption, which occurred on Thursday evening, left hundreds of households in South and North Ruimveldt without power after several utility poles collapsed.
According to GPL Chief Executive Officer Kesh Nandlall, the company has launched emergency repair operations.
Crews are working tirelessly to replant poles and restore the affected 13.8kV medium-voltage line, which serves the area.
The incident occurred around 8:07 p.m. Thursday between Congress Drive and Kaikan Street, extending to the entrance of Festival City.
GPL’s response team determined that ongoing road and drainage works had compromised the foundation of the utility poles, causing them to topple.
Nandlall noted that four poles initially fell, with additional poles brought down later in the night, resulting in a total of nine fallen poles.
He emphasized the need for contractors to collaborate with utility companies when working near GPL infrastructure to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Residents have expressed frustration with the outage but acknowledged GPL’s swift response to the situation.
Many noted the inconvenience caused by the lack of electricity, water, and internet access.
One resident, Simon, shared his concerns after witnessing the damage early Friday morning.
He highlighted the importance of improved engineering standards to prevent such occurrences.
Despite the challenges, residents like Saiku Andrews expressed gratitude for the efforts of GPL workers, who were seen actively addressing the issue.
GPL continues to urge contractors to communicate with relevant authorities when operating near utility networks to ensure public safety and uninterrupted services.