A 67-year-old pensioner has been left homeless after a fire destroyed her two-storey wooden and concrete home at Wash Clothes, Mahaicony, on Wednesday afternoon, wiping out belongings accumulated over a lifetime.
The house, owned by Soorsatie Drapaul, was reduced to ashes while she was away from the property for nearly two weeks. Drapaul said she learned of the fire after receiving a telephone call informing her that the house was ablaze.
By the time she arrived at the scene, most of the structure had already collapsed, although firefighters were still attempting to contain the blaze.
“I saw the house was down, quite down, everything. I just saw a little fire at the lower flat of the building. The house was already burned down,” Drapaul said.
She said investigators have not yet determined the cause of the fire. Representatives from Guyana Power and Light Incorporated also responded and disconnected electricity to the property as part of the emergency response.
Drapaul said the fire destroyed all of her household possessions, including appliances and furniture.
“I lost everything in my house — fridges, TV, washer, everything you could think of. Everything gone,” she said.
She estimated the total loss, including the building, at approximately $15 million.
Drapaul, who said she was born and raised on the property, described the loss of her home as devastating and appealed for public assistance as she tries to rebuild her life.
“I need help. I need a house back,” she said.
Anyone wishing to assist Soorsatie Drapaul can contact her at 655-9316.
