Rainstorm lashes East Bank Demerara, damage GPL power station

Last Updated on Saturday, 30 July 2016, 21:08 by Denis Chabrol

A terrible rainstorm struck parts of the East Bank Demerara including Garden of Eden where the roof of the Guyana Power and Light’s generation station was damaged.

The power company said the roof and other parts of the building were damaged as a result of high winds at about 5 PM Saturday, July 30, 2016.

After the Garden of Eden power station was taken offline, GPL said customers from Hope, East Bank Demerara to Timehri and Yarrowkabra as well as from La Grange to Vriesland, West Bank Demerara were plunged into darkness.

“A team comprised of engineers and building foremen are currently assessing the extent of damages in an effort to commenced remedial work,” the power company said.

In keeping with its assurance that every effort was being made to restore electricity in the shortest possible time, GPL later said that La Grange to Vriesland, West Bank Demerara and Hope to Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara were re-powered.

Residents at Land of Canaan and Garden of Eden confirmed that a storm struck their villages but there were no immediate reports of damage.

A wedding reception at Land of Canaan was called off and invitees were forced to leave after heavy winds tossed the tent aside.

Motorists said due to poor visibility caused by the extremely heavy rainfall, they parked until conditions improved.