Rains hit power, telecom sectors in Mumbai

Mumbai, July 4 (UNI) Reliance Energy Limited (REL), which supplies electricity to Mumbai suburbs, today resorted to safety shutdowns resulting in power failure in some parts of the western suburbs, as telecom services were affected due to continuous rains.

REL spokesman said the power cuts were necessitated due to the waterlogging in several consumer installations in various parts of the suburbs.

''REL in consultations with various authoriies has resorted to safety shutdowns in parts of Andheri East, Malad and Goregaon West and parts of Kandivali West. Several requests were received from consumers concerned, civic authorities to shut down power in water logged areas. REL has responded to the consumers' request and shut down power supply as a precautionary measure,'' the spokesman said.

The power supply will be resorted as soon as the water starts receeding.

REL has prepared adequate relief teams and equipments, which have been put on high alert to tackle any contingency, the spokesman added.

Cellular and landline telecommunication networks were also affected in the suburbs.

Trump and Dolphin, the cellular service of the state-owned MTNL, went blank in the afternoon.

Efforts to contact the consumer service numbers also proved futile because the calls were not answered. Residents in the suburbs also complained of bad network of private cellular services.

Meanwhile, Tata Power Company, in a statement, said its electricity supply remains unaffected.

UNI MR VJ DS1630