Power, water supply almost back to normal in Shimla

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 6

The electricity and water supply is limping back to normal in Shimla after severe disruption following daylong snowfall on Thursday. “We have restored electricity in almost the entire city now. There can still be some pockets without electricity due to local faults. We will take care of that as well at the earliest,” said Lokesh Thakur, Superintending Engineer, Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited.

Water management officials, too, sounded optimistic of smooth supply tomorrow onwards. “All our pumping stations are working since 11 am today. So, we are certain that water supply will be smooth tomorrow onwards,” said Dharmendra Gill, Managing Director, Shimla Jal Prabandhan Nigam Limited (SJPNL). For two consecutive days, many areas of the city have not received water supply.

Many rural areas surrounding the city were likely to go without electricity this night. “It’s going to be the third consecutive night without electricity. We have no clue when electricity will be restored. All we can do is just wait,” said Anil Kumar, a resident of Jathia Devi village.

Lokesh Thakur claimed that the shortage of staff in the SJPNL did not affect their efforts to restore electricity because they are authorised to hire private labour in emergency.