• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Sitapur Power Outage: A dramatic scene unfolded in Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur after UP Minister Suresh Rahi was personally seen transporting a faulty electrical transformer to a power station in the district. Upset with the misbehaviour of a junior engineer over a phone call, the minister decided to take the transformer to the electricity department office in Sitapur. He also staged a sit-in protest on the premises of the government official.

The dramatic incident took place in Koriya Udnapur village in the Hargaon area on Tuesday, where villagers were living without power for a couple of days. On locals' request, Rahi called Junior Engineer Ramesh Mishra to request replacement of the damaged transformer, the JE reportedly told him to transport it by himself and the official will visit the village when he would get time.

Angry with his behaviour, the minister called UP Power Minister AK Mishra seeking action in the matter. The entire incident was recorded on a mobile camera.

The angry minister transported the transformer to the Hussainganj powerhouse, where he personally handed it over and registered his reservation.

Junior Engineer Suspended By Power Minister

Reacting to the incident, UP Power Minister Mishra suspended the erring official. Mishra posted a note on X, asserting that officials must not be insensitive towards people's issues.

"The indiscreet behaviour by the Junior Engineer (JE) of the Electricity Department in Hargaon, Sitapur district, towards the Honorable State Minister Shri Suresh Rahi ji in the state government is absolutely unacceptable. Furthermore, the insensitivity of the said JE towards public issues and laxity in their work is unforgivable. For this, JE Shri Ramesh Mishra has been suspended with immediate effect," he said on X.

Additionally, after personally speaking with Honourable Minister Shri Rahi ji, I have instructed the Chairman of UPPCL and the MD of MVVNL that this incident reflects a failure in management from top to bottom. Such incidents must not be repeated, he added.

All electricity department employees are once again urged and warned that ignoring public sentiments and behaving rudely with the public or their representatives will have serious consequences, the minister said.