Monsoon safety: BSES issues a handy advisory for Delhiites

Indian Express

26-06-2025

Written by Shreyashi Gupta,
With the Southwest monsoon likely to hit Delhi any day now, the BSES on Thursday issued an advisory urging all citizens to remain vigilant and follow essential safety precautions — including maintaining a safe distance from electrical installations — to help ensure a safe and incident-free season.
A BSES official said, 'We are fully geared up to ensure a reliable power supply to our over 53 lakh consumers and more than 2.25 crore residents, while taking all necessary safety measures required during the rainy season. Consumers, too, have an important role to play in ensuring an incident-free monsoon by following a few simple safety guidelines. We urge all residents to stay alert, be cautious around electrical installations, and report any safety hazards promptly.'
The monsoon season ushers in several safety challenges — torrential rain, waterlogging, strong winds, and falling branches can pose serious risks to electrical infrastructure.
To tackle such potential problems, the BSES will set up war rooms and deploy Quick Response Teams to assist in tackling exigencies. It will also launch a social media campaign to sensitise consumers on safety precautions.
The BSES has also warned that it may sometimes need to switch off power in vulnerable areas to safeguard lives and prevent equipment damage.
-Residents should maintain a safe distance from electrical installations such as electricity poles, sub-stations, transformers, and streetlights, especially when areas are waterlogged.
-Children should be strictly cautioned against playing near such installations, even if they appear barricaded, and to avoid playing in parks submerged in rainwater.
-Households are encouraged to have all electrical wiring on their premises thoroughly checked and tested by a licensed electrical contractor (LEC).
-In case of water seepage or flooding in the meter cabin, residents should immediately switch off the main power supply. The power should be turned back on only after ensuring all faults have been properly rectified.
-Experts also recommend the installation of Earth Leakage Circuit Breakers (ELCBs), which can help prevent electric shocks and other mishaps.
-Keeping a voltage tester at home is also advisable. If any switch or socket appears wet, residents should first use a tester to check for current leakage and must refrain from touching it with their bare hands. In case of doubt or emergency, a licensed electrician should be called in immediately.
BSES also warned that power theft can pose a serious safety hazard, especially during the monsoon season, and has therefore appealed to all citizens to report such instances and not illegally draw electricity by hooking onto mainlines or electrical equipment.
It also pointed out that unplanned digging for road repairs or underground pipelines leads to outages, posing a major safety threat both for residents and workers. Therefore, citizens must report any such activities to prevent accidents and service disruptions.
BSES has also issued a list of emergency contact numbers for different parts of the city:
For South & West Delhi: 19123 or 011-49516707
For East & Central Delhi: 19122 or 011-41999808
In addition to these helplines, power supply disruptions can be reported to BSES through multiple channels, including mobile apps, WhatsApp, and the official website.
(Shreyashi Gupta & Anushka Srivastava are interns with The Indian Express)