Kurseong goes without power

DARJEELING: For the third consecutive day, Kurseong subdivision remained engulfed in darkness, as continuous rain accompanied by heavy winds uprooted trees and electricity poles at more then 20 places, disrupting power supply.

Employees of the electricity department in Kurseong are working overtime to restore power in the town. "We have not been able to restore the mainline yet because of continuous rainfall. However, we have formed teams to restore the smaller lines in and around the town," said Dipen Khawas, assistant engineer in the Kurseong unit of West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL).

Since Friday night, Kurseong has been receiving heavy rainfall, causing landslides at various places, that led to the loss of four lives at St. Mary's Hill, around 3 km from the town. There have been landslides at various stretches of NH-55 as well. The alternative routes at Rohini and Pankhabari have also been badly affected.

Huge pine trees and electricity poles were uprooted at more then 20 places in the three days of torrential rainfall that Kurseong witnessed. "It is really scary. I have not slept for the past few days fearing the same fate as that of the four who died at St. Mary's Hill," said Pasang Sherpa, a town resident.

The power cut-off has hampered normal life in Kurseong causing inconvenience to the public. "I have not been able to charge my cell phone which has hampered communication with my clients," said Mahindra Allay, an executive in a multinational company. While, for people like Durga Prasad, not being able to watch the television is depriving him of keeping in touch with what is going in other parts of the country. "I either read the papers or watch the television to get updated with what is happening in the country. But that I have not been able to do for few days," he said.

Though the incessant rainfall did not do much damage to Darjeeling sub-division but trees uprooted at several places yesterday night have disrupted power supply for more then 16 hours. "We have been able to restore the main lines. But several lines have been damaged due to uprooted trees tearing the lines. We are trying our best to restore power supply by evening," said an employee of the power grid station at Happy Valley in Darjeeling.

Rainfall also affected vehicular movement in the Hills. Vehicles have been diverted through the Mirik route to reach Siliguri and other plains areas. NH 55 and 31A is still closed as restoration work is in progress in war-footing.
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