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Everyday since the tsunami struck on December 26, the gloom engulfing the Andaman and Nicobar islands has seen its reflection after dusk in the dark nights. The region has been without electricity since the devastation.
But now, electricity is making a fast comeback, even though the island continues to suffer from want of most things needed for basic human existence.
The electricity department of the Andaman and Nicobar has restored 40 per cent of the power requirement in the capital city and South Andamans, despite the total lack of infrastructure and a skeletal manpower, Assistant Engineer, Planning, M Eappan, told PTI.
While the requirement of electricity in Port Blair and South Andamans is 24 MW, the department has been able to restore nine MW within 10 days of the devastation, Eappan said giving island-wise break up.
Meanwhile, a relief camp in remote South Andaman is using portable diesel generator sets for electricity. And it has lit up the face of five-year-old Joe Lawrence.
Lawrence has spent long parentless days and dark nights since the tragedy. "I don't know where my parents are, but now I don't get scared at night thinking that they will come back to me as ghosts," he says.
Joe plays hide-and-seek with his peers whom he befriended at the camp. As the night deepens, the children huddle up to banish thoughts of the netherworld, as the monotonous drone of the generator melts into the surrounding darkness.