2 engineers suspended for switching-off cellphones to evade duty
16 May 2009, TNN

LUCKNOW: Switching-off their mobile phones in the time of power crisis has cost two engineers of UP Power Corporation Limited their job.

B B Rai and Manoj Kumar Gupta, assistant engineer and junior engineer, respectively, posted in Maidagin locality of Varanasi, reportedly switched-off their official mobile phones even as a major power crisis gripped the locality following a thunderstorm which lashed the city on May 10. A 630 KV transformer developed a snag and the locality was plunged into darkness. There were reports of people trying to contact the officials, though unsuccessfully.

Taking cognizance of the lapse, chairman-cum-managing director of UPPCL, Navneet Sehgal has suspended the two with immediate effect. An order to this effect was finally given on Friday.

According to Sehgal, the 660 KVA transformer located in Maidagin caught fire following a severe thunderstorm. The engineers, he said, could not provide the alternate arrangement to ease the situation. "There was public resentment after the officials switched-off their mobile phones apparently to evade the service,'' he said.

Sehgal said that the engineers have been asked to remain in their respective locality till late evening and ensure that power supply remains normal and the faults be attended to timely.