Netizens vent ire over failure to restore normalcy in state

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 11

While the locals are having a miserable time, the social media was abuzz with nasty and sarcastic comments against the abject failure of the state government and the administration to restore normalcy even after six days.

Quotes like “welcome to Shimla – “Paharo ke Rani na bijli na pani” (Queen of Hills, no water no electricity) were being shared on Facebook and other social networking sites.

Sharing their problems and hard experiences, people wrote that there was no electricity since morning in the surrounding villages of Shimla.

“This is the fifth day and we are in darkness. Thank you Shimla government for educating us how to manage during tough times,” another person wrote.

A resident uploaded a picture of a robot clearing the road near the residence of an IAS officer in Rich Mound, following which residents unleashed their anger on the sites by writing comments that only VIP areas are being catered to while the commoners are left in the lurch.

“Dear CM … you are inviting suggestions to make Shimla a Smart City at a time when the people here feel that they are living in a remote village without basic facilities like water, electricity, road connectivity and telecommunication,” a resident wrote.

Some of the residents were so angry that they got abusive against the system and the administration and blamed the “incompetence” of the state government for the crises. The residents said while they were living without water and power, the government was making “false claims” of restoration which was like rubbing salt on the wounds.

Meanwhile, the Shimla mandal of the BJP today staged a protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office against the state government and the Municipal Corporation for “failing” to restore normalcy in the state capital and demanded resignations of top officers.

BJP leaders said there was no power and water supply even after six days and people were facing great hardship. There is an acute shortage of work force for which the state government and the MC was responsible, they added.

Claiming that seven persons have died due to cold while a large number of people are injured due to slippery conditions, Pradeep Kashyap, president, BJP Shimla Mandal, said even after the directions of the Chief Minister to restore normalcy in two days, nothing was visible even after six days.