Power cuts & Rain play spoilsport during Durga Puja in Andaman

Sheekha Bureau
Port Blair, Sept 25: Remote Andaman and Nicobar Islands are all set to celebrate Durga Puja from tomorrow with rest of India but power cuts and incessant rains have already dampened Durga Puja joy for many.
According to Indian Meteriological Department since last 24 hours Andaman and Nicobar Islands received nearly 46.4 mm of rainfall and this pattern is continuing since nearly last seven days, causing immense problem for various Puja Committees, who are finding it difficult to raise pandals for Durga Puja.
In several Durga Puja Pandals, committee members had to carry out repair works after damages due to heavy rain.
Meanwhile in a warning the IMD has already forecast that Heavy rain upto 07-11cm is likely to occur at isolated places over Andaman & Nicobar Islands tomorrow, which is also the first day of Durga Puja Celebration.
Not only rain power cuts have also played spoilsport during Durga Puja.
The Electricity Department of Andaman and Nicobar Islands has already issued appeal for all the Durga Puja committees of Port Blair and South Andaman to go for bare minimum decorative lights & electrical gadgets and avoid high consuming halogen lamps.
“It is also strongly advised to keep standby DG sets to avoid complete darkness in the absence of main supply,” an appeal issued by Andaman’s Electricity Department said here.
However, bringing some respite to Islanders today the Electricity Department has reduced the load shedding duration in South Andaman region from 1 hour 15 minutes to 45 minutes but has said that this 45 minutes power cut will continue in the region.
Meanwhile, due to heavy rains shopkeepers in Port Blair region have also witnessed some drop in sale as people are reluctant to come out of home even a day before puja.