Middle Andaman Correspondent
Mayabunder, Nov 15: It was a horrible day for the students of Mahatma Gandhi Government College (MGGC) today, as on the very first day of their University Exams, there was total power cut in the college. As the sky was cloudy, students were finding it difficult even to read question papers and write answer sheets.

When enquired into the matter it was found that an age-old Electric Pole had collapsed at Karmatang this morning, which resulted in snapping of power lines and power cuts in the entire region.

Villagers of the area alleged that though the issue of old and feeble Electric Pole was highlighted infront of JE of the concerned region several times in past but no visible action was taken in this regard by the Electricity Department.

Even Andaman Sheekha had reported about the issue nearly one year back with photographs of those electric poles but no one in Electricity Department paid any heed.

Today one truck driver and some labourers had a narrow escape as after collapse of the Electric Pole, live power line fell on the Truck. The Driver and all labourers however, were not on the truck when the incident occurred.

When Andaman Sheekha Correspondent asked the JE of the concerned region about the negligence, the JE preferred to ignore the question and walk away from the spot.

“If these weak Electric Poles are not repaired immediately, N & M Andaman region will continue to suffer power cuts. Snapping of live power lines may even kill hundreds of people, if live power lines fall on a Passenger Bus,” said a villager of Karmatang.

It seems that the Electricity Department is only focusing on issuing rejoinders against every news item published in local media instead of rectifying the faults and streamlining the Department.

DJ Venkatesh
Diglipur, Nov 14: The enamel paint spilled over major part at Fish Market Junction by unknown persons at Diglipur Bazar caused traffic jam in wee hours on November 12, 2012. Soon the Police Department of Diglipur in assistance of A & N Fire Service swung into action and cleared the paint to ease the movement of vehicle. However, it is not yet known, who had actually spilled enamel paint on road.

N & M Correspondent

Billyground, Nov 11: In yet another Bollywood style accident at Andaman Trunk Road, a Scorpio dived into a road side ditch on Saturday night near Billyground. However, till now report of any injury has been received.

According to reports, the mishap occurred on Saturday late night at Chatterjee Ghumai, near Badamnallah Police Outpost, which is 14 to 15 km away from PS Billyground.

However, since night nobody noticed the Scorpio, bearing registration number AN 01, D 8686, which overturned after falling inside the ditch. However, a government servant from Nimbudera, who was coming towards Mayabunder in the morning noticed the Scorpio and pressed the alarm button. The matter was immediately reported to the Police Outpost and people ran to rescue, people who were inside the SUV.

However, to the utter dismay of rescuers, there was nobody inside the vehicle. It is alleged that without intimating the police the driver and other people, present inside the SUV, had ran away from the spot to Mayabunder. Later when the matter became public the driver and other resurfaced at 8.30 am this morning.

According to report, the driver sustained minor injuries on his hands. The vehicle was pulled out of the ditch this evening with the help of an excavator. It has been reported that no case has been registered by Police in this regard, however, only a challan was imposed on the driver under Dangerous driving.

N & M Correspondent

Billyground, Nov 08: This has become a habit of SE Electricity Department to publish rejoinders against Newspaper reports instead of accepting department’s fault. As everybody knows rejoinders are published not for public but to mislead superior officers. Recently the SE refuted a news item of Andaman Sheekha claiming that there was no fault from the side of Electricity Department in nearly 24 hour long power cut, which Middle Andaman region had suffered on 12.09.2012.

In yet another example of gross negligence from the side of Electricity Department, this time the Hari Nagar Area of Middle Andaman suffered nearly three day long power cut due to fault in a transformer.

According to the PRI members of the area on 6th November 2012 sparking was witnessed in a transformer at around 7.00 am following which there was power cut in the area, though this matter was reported to the AE of the region, who is based at Mayabunder, no action was taken from his side. Even on 7th November 2012 no one came to repair or replace the transformer.

“Finally today evening the transformer has been replaced probably with an old transformer and we fear that by night this transformer will also give up,” Mr. Monojeet Halder, Up-Pradhan of the area told Andaman Sheekha today.

Villagers alleged that as since last three years no full time JE has been posted in the village the electric lines develops fault almost everyday, resulting in power cut. Not only this, detecting faults also take long long time.

“We demand immediate posting of a full time JE for this area,” the Up-Pradhan added.

DJ Venkatesh

Diglipur, Nov 06: Sri Krishna Halder, who fell under the rear tyres of a tipper yesterday at Diglipur, succumbed to injuries this morning. Sri Krishna Halder along with his friend Asheem were crushed yesterday by the tipper when they lost control of their speedy bike near a blind turning close to APWD Workshop at Diglipur, and came under the rear tyres. The condition of Asheem, the second victim, is still said to be serious.

When Andaman Sheekha team visited the spot it was found that the said turning is highly accident prone. Due to opening of new RCC Bridge on Kalpong and presence of Hospital, the utilization of the road increased manifold since last one year.

According to residents of the area due to presence of an old dilapidated APWD Barrack at the edge of the blind turning, it becomes totally impossible to see whether any vehicle is coming from the other side. This is the reason why nearly dozens of minor accidents have already been reported from the said area.

Residents of Diglipur now demand immediate demolition of the barrack for the safety of public in Diglipur region.

Staff Correspondent
Diglipur, Nov 06: The case of “Alleged manhandling of Staff Nurse by CMO of CHC Diglipur” has taken another serious turn as the Staff Nurse has now prepared complaint letters against the CMO and Health Department for Lt. Governor and Chief Secretary, demanding thorough probe into this matter.

“Yes I was manhandled by the CMO, CHC Diglipur,” maintained the Staff Nurse, who is still performing her duty at CHC Diglipur on leave vacancy adding that a complaint letter has already been prepared by her which she would fax to Chief Secretary and Lt. Governor of A & N Islands tomorrow.

“After 8 days the matter was still pending and no action has been taken in this matter, moreover when I called Director at DHS on 3rd, Nov,2012 he told me to come Port Blair and settle the matter and I may join there in leave vacancy as a staff nurse. I request you to kindly look into this matter as I want to speedy deposal of this matter and no other staff nurse should be harassed by any Doctor in the name of Leave Vacancy,” the Staff Nurse mentioned in her letter, a copy of which is available with Andaman Sheekha.

However, Andaman Sheekha found that there might be another angle in this story as the said Staff Nurse reportedly got work under leave vacancy, in six different occasions, something which looks impossible for other qualified nurses, who wait for a long time for their turn.

“One has to wait for nearly one or two years to get a job under leave vacancy and I don’t know how she was given opportunity to serve Health Services as Staff Nurse, six times,” a senior officer of Directorate of Health Services told Andaman Sheekha, who does not want his name to be quoted.

Meanwhile, taking to Andaman Sheekha the Director of Health Services backed the CMO. “Personally, I would never believe that the CMO would ever involve in such act. In this case the Medical Superintendent is doing inquiry and I can assure that whoever will be the culprit, a strict action will be taken against the person,” Dr. S K Paul the Director of Health Services told Andaman Sheekha.

As the matter is becoming serious, general public are anxiously waiting for the outcome of the inquiry, which is being carried out by the MS of Diglipur Region. As statements given by both the parties contradict, the Director of Health Service must intervene himself to find out the truth and put it infront of public for the sake of transparency and to restore faith on Health Department.