Odisha Braille press hit by lightning

Visually impaired students in Odisha may get their textbooks late this year, as the only Braille press in the state, at Berhampur in Ganjam district, is out of order after a lightening on 12 July damaged the electrical installations near the press.

22 Jul 2015 | By Dibyajyoti Sarma

According to Prakash Narayan Rath, the lightning damaged several key equipment at press, including two computers and the 10 KVA online UPS. He added that unless the technical problems are sorted out soon, it will delay the supply of Braille textbooks to visually impaired school students in different parts of the state. The press is to supply Class IX textbooks to 11 recognised special high schools by September-end.
 
The press has two new units of Interprint 55 high speed embossers, imported from Belgium at a cost of Rs 1.70 crore. These modern units, installed in 2013, have become non-functional without computers and UPS.
 
The press officials have requested the authorities to immediately repair or replace all electrical installations, UPS and computers.