Power supply restored at Srimandir; but no relief for Puri residents

Puri: It’s been 12 days since extremely severe cyclone Fani made its landfall in Puri, but the district is yet to get power supply. Even though the local administration today restored power at Puri Srimandir, it is not clear when the residents of the town will be able to get electricity.

While Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced assistance after reviewing post-cyclone restoration works in the district today, collector Balwant Singh has said that it will take another week to completely restore power.

“I urge all to refrain from panicking. It may get delayed by a few days, but power will be restored soon,” Singh said.

The main power sources in the city are yet to be reinstalled. Repair work of 132 KV power line in Puri-Gop has begun, but 132 KV station in Khurda-Puri remains non-functional. Officials of Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL) have said that more time is required to repair the Pandiabali- Samagara 220 KV power line.

“The damage is more than what we expected. We hope that everything will be restored within the month of May,” said Energy Minister, Susant Singh.

DGM of OPTCL, Suresh Mishra said, “Massive destruction has taken place, towers have been damaged but work is underway and we hope that power will be restored in 10 to 15 days.”