Cyclone Amphan comes as blessing in disguise for lockdown-hit jobless labourers, electricians in WB

Bengali proverb 'Karor poush mash toh karor sorbonash' (Someone's loss is someone else's gain) has taken a literal meaning in cyclone-ravd West Bengal. On one hand, Cyclone Amphan has wreaked havoc in large parts of south Bengal and affected millions of people, while on or, it has also opened up livelihood opportunities for electricians and daily wrs sitting idle for more than two months due to coronavirus-induced lockdown.

With a short of manpower to clear uprooted trees and restore power supply amid protests by people staying without electricity or water for more than five days, civic authorities in several affected areas have employed labourers and electricians for restoration work.

"re is a short of manpower as many employees have been unable to join duty due to lockdown. Hence, we decided to take help of local labourers to remove trees blocking roads.

"Although it is job of Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation (CESC) to restore power supply, wires are lying everywhere so we needed help of local electricians to safely remove m," a councillor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) told PTI.

Apart from KMC, authorities of South Dum Dum and rth Dum Dum municipalities have also engd daily wrs to remove uprooted trees from roads.

"Hundreds of trees have been uprooted in our municipal area, and we are facing a short of manpower. So, we have engd labourers, who were sitting idle at ir homes for last two months, on a daily payment basis," Abhijit Mitra, a councillor of South Dum Dum municipality said.

Maj Sarangi, a daily wr who used to work in a sawmill, has been jobless since imposition of lockdown. He has w been engd by South Dum Dum municipality for restoration work and is being paid Rs 250 every day.

"I didn't have a job for last two months and have spent all my savings. This work of removing uprooted trees has saved my family," he said.

civic body has employed 100 labourers like Sarangi for restoration work. For electrician Sajal Das too, cyclone has come as a blessing in disguise. After remaining jobless for two months, his hands are w full.

"Earlier, I used to earn Rs 500 per day but my earning came to a grinding halt due to lockdown. But since May 22, two days after cyclone struck West Bengal, my phone has t stopped ringing," he said.

"Every day, I am getting calls from people asking me to repair ir water pumps or mend electric wires," he added.

Subal Naskar, a retired technician of state power department who w runs an electrical appliance shop, too is busy attending to calls for restoration of cable TV network and repair of ceiling fans amid rising mercury levels.