Linesmen ran across rain soaked city risking their lives to restore power
Beacom linesmen put their lives on the line with every job they are called upon to perform. (Photo: DC)
Bengaluru: A group of Bescom officials sitting safely in their corporate offices didn't even bother to respond to a flurry of calls from citizens on the rain-soaked Sunday night, which resulted in blackouts across Bengaluru.
However, the highly short staffed set of ground level linesmen showed extraordinary dedication and courage as they ran from one corner of the city to the next and risked their lives by working without line clearance on high tension wires that had been exposed to the rain. While most men spend time with their families on Sunday evening, these unsung heroes put their lives on the line with every job they are called upon to perform. Despite the safety precautions taken by Bescom, there can be no real guarantee of safety, for a single slip can prove fatal.
It was close to midnight when a linesman arrived to sort out a problem in Shivajinagar. He stood on a ladder that balanced precariously half on the footpath and half on the road, both of which were wet. Only one house in the whole street had no power, which the linesman repaired armed with a flashlight and a tester. Although he remained on the phone with his superior, he worked without line clearance, for power supply to the street remained uninterrupted throughout. The linesman and his assistant had travelled from Kammanahalli and Broadway Road before arriving at Queens Road and were already scheduling the next job for an hour later.
"The linesmen turned up even though it was very late and raining, which makes it very dangerous," said Mr Umesh, the resident who had called to report this problem. "I was overwhelmed by the sort of work they do, even though they have always been very prompt. Once they responded to me even though it was 2 am when I called. We don't give these ground level staff the appreciation they deserve, because they're doing a wonderful job.
"There is a shortage of linesmen in our department," said Mr Pandey, Managing Director, Bescom. "We recruited around 400 recently, but the shortage is still about 2,900." The staff requirements have not yet been able to meet the rapidly growing consumer network, which means the linesman's job, which already requires high levels of skill and total alertness, becomes that much more taxing, in a field where fatigue and distraction demand a heavy price.
"We do everything we can to ensure their safety," continued Mr Pandey. "They are provided harnesses, helmets, reflective jackets, shoes and belts as well." Despite all this, he agrees that the job is a dangerous one. He added that ground level staff will soon have the helpline number displayed on their jackets. "We want to send out the message that public safety is our main concern because we operate according to certain standards of performance that cannot be breached."
( Source : dc )
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