Family still awaiting word from GPL on 10-year-old’s electrocution

Ten-year-old Satyanand Balkaran, who was electrocuted last week at his Goed Fortuin West Bank Demerara home, was buried yesterday and family members say they are yet to hear a word from the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL), which they have accused of negligence.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GPL Bharat Dindyal told Stabroek News that a report was supposed to have been released to the media on the case yesterday. He undertook to check with GPL’s Public Relations Department but could not give an answer as to when a statement can be expected.

According to Lakeram Balkaran, his grandson’s funeral was largely attended by schoolmates, friends and relatives. The body was taken to his home at 9:30am and at 12:30pm it was taken to the Ruimzigt Crematorium.

Satyanand Balkaran
Satyanand Balkaran

Satyanand was electrocuted while bathing in his yard. Family members said that he had placed his hands on the nearby fence and was electrocuted since exposed wires were resting on the fence.

This wire, family members said, connected electricity to a house at the back of their yard. They said they made complaints to GPL’s Vreed-en-Hoop branch and got no response until the boy’s death, which prompted GPL officials to visit the home and tape the loose wires.

However, Dindyal had said he was informed that the loose wires were a part of an illegal connection that should have been removed years ago.