Keralites switch off lights in homes,light diyas, candles in support of PM's call

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 5 (): Keralites joined peopleacross the country and switched off the lights in their homesand lit candles, diyas, torchlights and mobile phones insupport of the unity call by by Prime Minister, Narendra Modito fight COVID-19 pandemic.

Lights were switched off at Clff House, the officialresidence of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan here tonight fornine minutes from 9 PM.

Various ministers also took part by switching of thelights of their official residences.

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan along with his wifelit lamps at the Raj Bhavan to express people's unity infighting COVID-19.

Actor and BJP's Rajya Sabha MP Suresh Gopi lit diyas,While DGP Loknath Behera lit candles on the terrace of hisofficial residence in the state capital.

Policemen in their uniforms held diyas in front of theirpolice station at Tripunithura in Kochi.

Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) sources said theywere prepared to face the change in power variation that maybe triggered when the lights were turned off at 9 pm.

It was estimated that there would be a shortfall of about350-400 MW by 9 PM and then a sudden increase in power demandafter 9 minutes.

The various generating stations of KSEB and the StateLoad Dispatch Center at Kalamassery took steps to mitigate theimpact of the shortage.

"There will not be any load shedding for this purpose.Also the southern part of the state has received heavy rainsand wind.

Many parts are now facing power outage due to the rains.Power restoration works are going on," the sources told .

"We will not engage in power cuts as there are manyhospitals and other essential utilities, up and running in thestate in the wake of coronavirus scare," the sources added.

Well known Malayalam actors, Mohanlal and Mammootty hadalso appealed to the people to participate in the nine minutevigil of Prime Minister. RRT UD APRRAVINDRANATH APRRAVINDRANATH