Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has switched off power supply to trident lamps across the city to prevent accidents during the rain and thunderstorm that Cyclone Asani is set to trigger in the city in the next few days.
Wires jutting out of junction boxes of trident lamps often become a cause of concern for pedestrians walking on footpaths or wading through waterlogged streets.
“Our biggest concern during rain are the wires that hang from trident lamp posts. I have instructed my officials to snap power supply to the trident lamps and ensure that no wire hangs loosely from the posts,” mayor Firhad Hakim said on Monday.
“I have also requested the PWD and CESC to ensure that no wires hang around lamp posts. There should be no electrocution death.”
A number of electrocution deaths have been reported in the city during rain in the last few years. A number of them died after coming in contact with exposed wires on trident posts.
Civic officials said electrical department engineers were assessing the condition of the wires supplying power to trident lamps since Sunday afternoon.
“The engineers found that in some places the wires were not properly insulated and in a few others they were hanging precariously,” said a KMC official.
On Monday, municipal commissioner Binod Kumar asked officials to suspend power connection to the 9,000-odd trident lamps in the city till further notice.
He chaired a meeting with various departments of the civic body and agencies to assess the city’s preparedness in tackling the Asani effects.
“Our DMG (disaster management group) teams are ready for any emergency and rescue work. We are in close contact with CESC and the fire department,” said joint commissioner (headquarters), Kolkata police, Subhankar Sinha Sarkar.
CESC officials told The Telegraph they were laying emphasis on the areas that are prone to waterlogging. “The height of the pillar boxes in these areas have been raised and our quick response teams have been activated to switch off supply in case water level exceeds safety limits and switch it on once the water recedes,” a CESC official said.
