Kasaragod: For the past eight months, the three employees at the Ramdas Nagar Post Office in Kasaragod’s Madhur panchayat have been using the flashlight on their mobile phones to examine documents and carry out transactions after a short circuit left the office without electricity.
The irony is hard to miss. A post office under the Union government’s Department of Posts is functioning without power in a building owned by the BJP-ruled Madhur grama panchayat, forcing staff to work in near-darkness, particularly during the monsoon, and customers to endure basic infrastructure failures.
The post office, located at Kudal, 7 km from Kasaragod town, operates from a room in a panchayat-owned building. A short circuit disrupted the power supply in December and has not been restored since, employees said.
Madhur grama panchayat president Sujnani acknowledged the problem and said steps were being taken to resolve it. “The short circuit damaged the electrical system, and the entire wiring had to be replaced. Four new meter boxes also need to be installed to increase the power load. The work is required not only for the post office but also for two other panchayat-owned buildings. The cost is expected to exceed ₹60,000, and efforts are under way to shore up the funds and complete the work as soon as possible,” she said.
Until then, the office continues to function without lights or fans. The Ramdas Nagar Post Office is staffed by a postmaster and two postmen.
Employees said the situation becomes particularly difficult during the monsoon, when the room remains dark even during daytime. Located at the rear of the building, the office receives little natural light or ventilation. Staff members often have no option but to switch on their phone flashlights to verify records and complete routine office work.
The summer months were equally challenging. With fans lying idle for months, employees had to work in stifling heat and frequently step outside for relief before returning to their desks. Despite its modest size, it handles a significant number of financial and postal transactions and serves a large number of residents from the surrounding areas every day.
Employees said panchayat authorities were informed about the issue soon after the short circuit occurred. They were only assured the problem would be addressed soon.
Sources said one proposal was to provide the post office with a separate electricity connection. However, that plan was not implemented, contributing to the prolonged delay. Narayanan, a resident, said the situation was difficult to comprehend.
“It is shocking that employees in such an important government office have to work using mobile phone lights. We saw the difficulties they faced during the summer. Even after all these months, the problem remains unresolved,” he said.
