The north-east work adventure – Chabua

Day 5 – Dibrugarh

The train journey was uneventful and peaceful. Filled with many people from different defence areas. Was interesting talking to a few of them.

Most of the passengers got off at Guwahati station. The train was quite empty upto Dibrugarh.

On Rocky Barua’s suggestion, booked Hotel nataraj at Dibrugarh.

Took an auto to the hotel that was 700mtrs away for a pricey Sum of Rs 100. Checked in and slept for about 45 mins.

Went for breakfast at the hotel and headed out to the market to buy a backpack at Big Bazaar to divide the heavy load of the tools.

Headed onwards to view the Brahmaputra river, which was quite dry.

The road+rail bridge is one of the longest bridges across the Brahmaputra, but it’s a good 16km away. Left that for another day.

On the way back, had nice kullad chai and walked back to the market near the hotel.

Tried the local bhel being sold on a cart. Way different, but quite decent. Different cos they use grated cheese as garnish asking with sev

Found a hotel called “let’s go” very close and headed for a very decent lunch. Found out they serve dosa as well which looked quite decent too.

Headed back to the room for siesta by 230pm.

I took another long walk around the block at 530, munched on some dabeli on the corner of the road. Wanted to try the Naga food and some momo.. But i wasn’t very hungry.

Will have an early dinner, probably at “let’s go” and be ready for the 8 am pick up and to meet Mr Anshuman of Bel to head to Chabua airforce base

Day 6 – Chabua installation – 24 Feb 2020

We were ready and waiting for the driver post breakfast at 8 am. The driver arrived by 9 am citing some delay and we picked up the young BEL officer Mr Angshuman and reached chabua Air force by 10 am.

There was a huge delay in getting the pass and we were able to get in finally at 11.30 am.

The site is over 5 km from the gate close to the runway.

The building was starkly different from the one in Bagdogra. Did not look like it will be ready in the next 3 months at least.

Most of our material was in the contractor room but the compressor was lying outside the building on a mound of mud 600mtrs away from its intended place.

It looked like there would be a need for a JCB to pave the way through the mud to reach the building and then get a forklift to lift it to the point of installation.

We left Angshuman to figure out the details of that while we started unpacking and installed all the other smaller items. Opened all the cases, assessed for damages, luckily none.

By lunch time we were done with pretty much most of the installations in the room. With the help of the electric contractors we’re able to get power to run the drill.

The compressor problem was solved by the contractor idea of using 6 people and some cylinders to move the compressor to location.

Post a simple lunch at the airforce officers mess we head back to the site and began the first part of marking the line for plumbing and were able to drill the wall with holes for the clamps.

Got some good news by Haresh bhai that they had begun shipping the Mieco pumps to all the locations using speed post. The ones to chabua, Jorhat and Tezpur will reach on next 4-5 days.

By 4 pm the compressor moving operation began and they were able to place it on location by 4.45 pm

We ended the day at 5 pm and were back in our hotel room by 7 pm. On the way we stopped for chai and pakoda at a roadside dhaba.

Came to know that the tee joints had also arrived at little palace.

Rested at the hotel for an hour updating haresh bhai with the details of our work today and attending to some more work calls. Watched a few standup comedy videos in you tube, and a quick bath later, headed to “LET’Z GO” for a dosa and chole kulcha dinner.

Happy with the work progress today. Finished almost 80% of the job in one day

Was back by 930 pm to the room and shut eye by 10pm!

Day 7 – 25 February 2020 – Chabua airforce base

Woke up bright and early. Finished some work emails and urgent quotations and was at breakfast by 745 am

The driver arrived in time today and we picked up Angshuman and were at the base by 9 am

For reasons unknown, the guard would not give us a pass for the second day citing that he can’t keep making passes every day for the same people. Explaining that we need only to come here less than 2 days now did not help.

The airforce officer who signed us in finally arrived and cleared the confusion.

We headed to the site and completed the air line and other small fittings required. By 3 pm there was no electricity and work cane to a standstill.

There was very little pending so we told the airforce officer to arrange for demo of material tomorrow morning at the earliest.

1030 am he said we will do the demo amidst him and other maintenance officers of the squadron.

We headed back to Dibrugarh by 530pm.

I got off at the market area close to the hotel and walked aimlessly up and down the roads.

J and Y wanted to go to Vishal mega Mart to check out a bag for the rest of the tools.

The shop was quite large filled with cheap items. Found a bag for 400 Rs. J and Y headed to the hotel and I did some more roaming around.

Y called to request for “energy drinks”. I purchased a quarter of rum and whisky and gave it to them in the room. Went back out as savored roadside sev puri and hot jalebi.

Had dinner at let’s go with j and y and was back in the room by 9, lights of at ten.

Day 8 – 26 Feb 2020

The days plan was to send J and Y to Jorhat ass we expected to finish before lunch the final installation and demo of equipment. While I stayed back to wait for the Mieco pumps arrival

Their bags packed, checked out their room. I asked the hotel for one night extension for my room, but they refused citing they were booked out.

Quite surprised to find that the hotel that calls you every day at 945pm to remind you to have dinner, does not call you to ask if you plan to stay longer.

Checked out my room, and kept our luggage at the cloak room. I left my photography bag at Angshuman room at little palace hotel and we reached airforce base by 10 am

New day. New guy at the post. New obstacle to jump over.

Had to wait for the airforce guy to arrive. Then he wanted a document that showed our names im to allow us in. A good 45 mins and number of calls between personnel our passes were done

The airforce maintenance crew was already waiting at the site since 1030. We completed the final installation part in 30 mins and have them a brief demo and explanation of all the items. The airforce guy went through each and every line item on the BOQ and finally have his nod as installation complete.

Turns out, we had to pay for shifting of the compressor and I paid the contractor 3500 for a job that was not with more than 2k. Since the job was already accepted at 4k by Bel engineer, it wouldn’t be fair to negotiate hard after the work is done

We cleared the packing material and repacked the items and headed back to Dibrugarh by 530pm

Decided to head to Jorhat together as the Mieco pumps are not likely to arrive before 28th. Booked 2 rooms at little palace

Booked a cab for a 6 am pickup with the help of Rehman, the bel taxi connect

Rested till 630 pm and booked an auto to visit the Jagannath temple at Dibrugarh asking with Jayaram

The temple was about 8 km away from the city. Beautiful temple. Serene as it was a weekday and it was just about closing time.

Took few pictures, saw the idols, prayed and headed back to the hotel by 8pm

Angshuman and I were to meet for dinner, but he kept saying ,”I’ll call you in twenty mins”. By 8.45 there was no sign of him and I went to the bar for dinner of chili cheese toast and a peg of capt Morgan.

Back to the room by 10 and lights out by 1030. Journey to Jorhat begins tomorrow