Cyclone-hit Ganjam facing dark Diwali as power situation stays grim

BERHAMPUR (ODISHA): The cyclone and flood-affected people of the worst-hit Ganjam district are likely to have a dark Diwali, as power supply in most of the areas is yet to be restored.

"It'll take another fortnight for the power scenario to be normal. We are trying to restore electricity in some of the block headquarters towns in the district before Diwali," said P K Choudhury, Managing Director of Southco, a power distribution company.

Power supply, however, has been restored in about 90 per cent areas in Berhampur town, 15 of 22 block and notified area council headquarters so far.

But electricity in 400 of 475 gram panchayat headquarters is yet to be restored.

Southco workers have been working on war-footing to restore normalcy at the earliest, Chowdhary said.