Thousands, One Spirit: TPSODL Employees Go Beyond Their Call of Duty During Cyclone Arnab
- From providing shelter and meals to flood-affected residents to safeguarding critical office equipment, employees demonstrate courage, compassion and commitment beyond their professional responsibilities
Berhampur, November : When floodwaters disrupted life in parts of Southern Odisha following Cyclone Arnab, Dayasagar Nayak of Bhanjanagar and Bikash Chandra Swain of Aska responded in ways that went beyond their professional responsibilities. While Dayasagar opened his home to people affected by the floods, Bikash braved chest-deep water to protect essential office equipment and records. Their actions reflect the spirit of thousands of TP Southern Odisha Distribution Limited (TPSODL) employees who went the extra mile during the crisis, supporting communities and colleagues while working through exceptionally difficult conditions.
In Bhanjanagar, Dayasagar Nayak came forward to help people affected by the floods in the surrounding areas. He assisted in rescue efforts and provided shelter and freshly cooked meals at his home to nearly 25 flood-affected residents. At a time when access to basic necessities was difficult for many, his home became a place of support for those in need.
In Aska, Bikash Chandra Swain, Estimator at TPSODL’s Aska Electrical Division-I, took it upon himself to protect important office assets as floodwaters entered the town on October 29. Wading through chest-deep water, he moved nearly 14–15 computers, official files, printers, CPUs and UPS batteries to the staircase area on an upper floor of the office building. He stayed overnight to safeguard the equipment and documents until the water receded the following day. His own family was stranded at home during the incident.
Recalling the experience, Bikash said, “My entire family was trapped at home, but at that moment, I felt my responsibility towards my work was equally important. There was hardly any time to think. I simply felt that protecting important office documents and equipment was the right thing to do.”
The actions of Dayasagar and Bikash represent just two examples of the commitment shown by TPSODL employees during the crisis. Across the company’s eight-district operational area, thousands of employees, engineers, officers and project personnel worked continuously to address the impact of the cyclone and floods. Alongside their core responsibilities, employees also extended support wherever they could, reflecting a collective spirit of service and solidarity with affected communities.
For the power restoration effort, around 6,500 personnel were deployed across Southern Odisha, supported by approximately 400 vehicles, six mobile distribution substations and 16 transit stores. Teams worked in areas affected by severe waterlogging, damaged electrical infrastructure and difficult access, undertaking repair and restoration work while maintaining a focus on safety. Their sustained efforts helped restore essential electricity services across the region.
The response demonstrated that the role of employees during a natural disaster can extend well beyond their designated work. Whether helping people in distress, protecting important resources or working under challenging field conditions, their actions reflected a shared commitment to the communities they serve.
Mr. Amit Kumar Garg, CEO, TPSODL, said: I am proud of the thousands of our employees who went beyond their professional responsibilities during Cyclone Arnab. The compassion shown by those who supported affected families, the dedication of those who safeguarded essential resources and the perseverance of our field teams reflect the values of our organisation. Their actions reaffirm that our responsibility is not limited to restoring power; it is also about standing with our communities in times of need.”
Through the collective commitment of its employees, TPSODL continues to work towards restoring normalcy in the cyclone-affected areas and supporting the communities of Southern Odisha.
