With residents of coastal districts of Odisha still spending nights in darkness due to disruption of power supply after tropical storm Phailin, increase in rain will again add up to their miseries in the coming few days. This will further disrupt the restoration of power supply and services.
Residents of the district have had no electricity for last two weeks as up to 4 lakh electric poles have been damaged.
According to the state government, it has been able to supply power to 3.3 million households out of 3. 8 millions electricity consumers. Consumers in northern and western region of the state are being provided electricity but they are not quite sure about the same for the southern districts especially Ganjam and its adjoining areas.
Only 2.67 out of 7.32 lakh consumers are being supplied power in southern districts and top government officials claim that it will take at least 10 days in Berhampur and more than a month in the entire Ganjam district for power supply to be fully restored.
The power crisis has led to an acute water shortage. Efforts to supply drinking water through tankers seem inadequate. Grocery shops that are working on power generators are charging Rs. 20 per hour to recharge mobile phone batteries. Few working ATMs in Behrampur, the commercial capital of south Odisha, have long queues. The city usually abuzz with activities, now comes to a stand still by 8 in the night. Though, the state made successful efforts at safe guarding the locals against the cyclone, it remains to be seen how well and how soon will the government be able to recuperate from the disaster.