Protests hit telecom restoration work in cyclone-ravaged Bengal: Officials

Kolkata: Continued protests in various parts of West Bengal for restoration of water and power supplies that have been disrupted due to cyclone Amphan hindered telecom service providers to normalise the communication, officials said on Sunday. Lack of coordination between local administrations and authorities of utilities such as power distribution companies also slowed the process of restoration, they alleged.

The Department of Telecommunications has closely been monitoring the progress of work for normalisation of telecom services in the cyclone-affected areas after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the state, the officials said.

“The primary objective of the telecom service providers is to end community isolation with restoration of at least voice service in the worst-hit areas while data services could be restored later,” an official said.