Gujarat CM commends power personnel for swift restoration of electricity supply after heavy rains: Jitu Vaghani
Gandhinagar, July 28
Gujarat Minister Jitu Vaghani said Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel appreciated the dedicated efforts of power department personnel who restored electricity supply across the state following the recent heavy rains.
Addressing the media on the issues discussed during the Cabinet meeting, Vaghani said that disruptions in electricity supply are inevitable during heavy rainfall, cyclones, and other natural disasters. However, he noted that the new direction given to Gujarat's power sector by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has enabled the State Government to carry out rapid restoration work even in the most challenging situations.
Providing further details, the Minister said that electricity supply was restored within a matter of hours in 1,197 villages affected by the recent heavy rains in Gujarat. The adverse weather damaged 2,575 power feeders, 1,464 electricity poles, and nearly 5,000 transformers across the state. To restore the damaged infrastructure, more than 900 specialised teams, comprising over 3,400 power personnel, worked continuously on the ground under emergency conditions.
Vaghani said that in earlier years, power outages following such disasters often lasted for weeks or even months. Today, under the guidance of Chief Minister Patel, normalcy has been restored much more quickly through the swift response of the Energy Department. The Cabinet congratulated the entire department for its prompt and commendable efforts.
The Minister further said that the Chief Minister particularly lauded the relentless efforts of power personnel working in the field. At the same time, Patel issued clear instructions that there should be no compromise on the safety and security of employees.
He stressed that all safety protocols must be strictly followed during restoration work and directed that field personnel should be deployed only after being provided with all necessary safety gear and equipment.
The Chief Minister also observed that workers sometimes neglect to use the available safety equipment in their eagerness to complete restoration work quickly or due to habit. He therefore instructed that all personnel must use the prescribed safety gear properly.
He further directed that any additional tools, equipment, or safety facilities required to ensure the safety of employees should be provided by the State Government on a priority basis.
— ANI
Reader Comments
While I appreciate the restoration efforts, cm sir's remark about workers neglecting safety equipment is concerning. Instead of pointing fingers, shouldn't the govt ensure proper training and awareness? Safety gear is useless if people don't know how to use it properly. But yes, 3,400 workers risking their lives in rain - hats off to them 🙏
As someone who works in utilities in Canada, I'm impressed. Restoring 2,575 feeders and 5,000 transformers in hours is world-class response. Gujarat's power grid resilience has come a long way. The safety emphasis is spot on - we take that very seriously here too.
Good to see government acknowledging ground-level workers. But why only "commending" after every disaster? Why not invest more in underground cabling and weather-proof infrastructure? Prevention is better than restoration, na? Still, thankful for those teams working in difficult conditions. 🙏
Rapid response after natural disasters is critical, and Gujarat seems to have mastered this. PM Modi's focus on power sector reforms is paying off. The comparison with "weeks or months" earlier is telling - this is real progress, not just political talk.
The people working in rain and damaged infrastructure deserve more than just praise - they need better compensation and benefits. 3,400 workers risking electrocution... CM's safety instructions are welcome but hope they're followed strictly on ground. Restoration speed is indeed commendable though! 👍
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