It’s been four days since Cyclone Amphan hit Bengal, having caused 80 deaths and massive destruction so far. Many parts of Kolkata went into darkness on the day of the cyclone; and it’s been 72 hours since these areas received electricity or a regular supply of water. People of various wards in the city are creating chaos by blocking roads, and their allegations are on the councillors of their wards. Parts of Garia, Jadavpur, Kasba, Pallisree, Howrah, Sonarpur, Haridevpur and Behala are suffering the most.
Shubangini Dey, resident of Garia, said: “It’s been 72 hours, yet, there has been no electricity or water supply in our locality. We are trying to contact the CESC (Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation) helpline number for the past three days, but they it is going unanswered.” Similarly, Soumyashree Ganguly of Sreerampore said, “I have been charging my mobile phone using my car’s engine power. The Mayor of Kolkata said it will take seven days to normalise the situation in the city.
Srabani Roy Choudhury, whose father is an employee of the CESC, said, “My father has been working for more than 12 hours a day. I think everyone should understand the situation, instead of blaming the CESC for delay in work. Choudhury added that citizens are beating up CESC workers without any reason.
Regarding WBSEDL, the State electricity board, she said that the workers came to work in her locality, and climbed up a transformer, but couldn’t come down because the public was waiting to beat them up. The police had to rescue them. Her father told her that this is the worst case he has seen in his entire career.
People of the Pallisree and Kasba area in the city are creating chaos by blocking the road. Even the police are not being able to clear the chaos. “We didn’t want to create chaos, but the management is not working properly. Even the area’s councillor is not coming to see the situation,” Moumita Bhattacharjee Banerjee of Pallisree said.
She added, “My mother is a heart patient and she needs BiPAP, but due to the electricity cut, I am not being able to use the system.” Many families have aged members, and they are the ones suffering the most. Monica Maity of Howrah said, “My grandfather, aged 76, is suffering from urine infection and is not being able to sleep properly.”
Protests by the residents of Azadgarh area of Tollygunge continued overnight in which the masses lighted fire in the Ashok Nagar area of Tollygunge. A woman from the area said, “I have children in my home and pets as well, both of them are suffering the most. Our ward councillor Mrs. Mitali Banerjee didn’t even come to see the situation, and we will keep on protesting until we get electricity and water.
Akansha Chodhury (name changed) of Kasba area said, “My mother is a burn patient and needs AC and water all the time, but it’s been four days and there has been no electricity and water supply. We have tried to contact the CESC, but they said that until and unless the uprooted trees are removed, electricity won’t be back.” The CESC claimed that the KMC is not removing the uprooted trees, causing delay in their work as electric wires and electric post got tangled with the uprooted trees.
Out of these areas, Garia, Kasba and Haridevpur are containment zones, and people are protesting without maintaining social distancing guidelines, causing a rise in corona cases.
Protests erupted in South and North 24 Paragans areas as well. In this critical situation, one of the private colleges in Kolkata is conducting online viva exams, and students haven’t been given any prior notice about the examination. Many are worried about the examination as internet connection and electricity hasn’t been restored in various parts of Bengal.
Mamata Banerjee personally visited the CESC office on 23rd May, and the CESC authority assured that electricity supply will be restored in the city by 26th May.
Update: It’s been 100+ hours and electricity has still not been restored in the mentioned areas.
All images have been provided by the author.