Satu Bola Lampu, Sejuta Harapan Kota Palu

BAHASA

“Satu bola lampu yang menyala memberi harapan sejuta pedagang di kota Palu.”

Kalimat itu meluncur dari Simpra Tajang (51), pemilik Unity Cafe and Coffee di Jalan Basuki Rahmat No 49, Palu, Sulawesi Tengah untuk menggambarkan besarnya manfaat listrik paska bencana gempa dan tsunami di Palu.

Mengenang kembali detik-detik bencana yang memilukan itu, Simpra bertutur, dia dan pegawainya sedang sibuk melayani pesanan minuman dan makanan tamu. Tiba-tiba goncangan terjadi begitu keras. Pengunjung berlarian keluar. Meja, peralatan dapur beserta etalasenya berjatuhan. Seketika suasana semakin mencekam saat listrik tiba-tiba padam.

“Listrik padam, kota kami gelap gulita, kepanikan melanda, kekhawatiran akan keamanan dirasakan semua orang,” jelasnya.

Simpra cukup beruntung, cafe miliknya tidak mengalami kerusakan serius. Selama listrik padam, ia dan keluarganya mendirikan tenda di halaman cafe. Selain masih adanya trauma, ia juga ingin memastikan semua fasilitas usahanya dalam keadaan aman.

Tiga hari pertama saat listrik masih padam. Optimisme hidup Simpra sempat surut. Di benaknya harapan mulai memudar. Apalagi usaha cafe merupakan tumpuan keluarganya mengais nafkah di Palu.

Suatu waktu ia berkeliling kota palu menggunakan sepede motor, disetiap sudut kota ia melihat sendiri petugas PLN sibuk memperbaiki jaringan listrik. Dalam hati, Simpra berharap PLN bisa secepatnya menyalakan kembali listrik.

“PLN cepat sekali responnya, saya ingat hari ke-6 paska gempa, daerah Basuki Rahmat listrik sudah menyala. Betapa senang perasaan saya, bagi pengusaha kuliner seperti saya ini, rasanya sendi kehidupan mulai bangkit kembali,” katanya.

Hari pertama listrik menyala, cafenya buka kembali. Pengunjung mulai berdatangan. Saat itu kebanyakan relawan yang datang.

“Semenjak listrik kembali menyala, cafe saya tak pernah sepi pengunjung. Optimisme saya menjulang. Saya yakin warga Palu lainnya juga merasakan hal yang sama,” katanya.

Simpra mencoba membayangkan apabila listrik dari PLN tak kunjung menyala. Ia tak mungkin menggunakan genset untuk usaha. Ia sadar akan lebih mahal biaya yang harus dikeluarkan hanya untuk membeli minyak.

“Lebih dua pekan sudah paska gempa. Palu kembali terang. Kehidupan berangsur normal. PLN tidak hanya memberi warga Palu penerangan. PLN memberi kami optimisme kembali bangkit,” katanya.

Sembari mengantarkan pesanan para pengunjung, Simpra mengucapkan terima kasih kepada Dirut PLN, yang dengan sigap mengirimkan seribu lebih relawan PLN yang berasal dari seluruh Indonesia untuk kembali dapat menerangi Palu.

ENG
"A light bulb that lights up gives hope to a million traders in the city of Palu."

The sentence was launched from Simpra Tajang (51), owner of Unity Cafe and Coffee on Jalan Basuki Rahmat No 49, Palu, Central Sulawesi to illustrate the magnitude of the benefits of electricity after the earthquake and tsunami disaster in Palu.

Looking back on the sad moments of the disaster, Simpra said, she and her employees were busy serving drinks and guest food orders. Suddenly the shock happened so hard. Visitors run out. Tables, kitchen utensils and accessories fell. Instantly the atmosphere became even tighter when the electricity suddenly went out.

"Electricity is extinguished, our city is pitch black, panic is engulfing, all security concerns are felt," he explained.

Simpra was lucky enough, her cafe did not suffer serious damage. During a power outage, he and his family set up a tent in the courtyard of the cafe. Besides being traumatized, he also wanted to make sure all of his business facilities were safe.

The first three days when electricity was still out. Simpra's life optimism had subsided. In his mind hope began to fade. Moreover, the cafe business is the foundation of his family to earn a living in Palu.

One time he toured the city of hammer using sepede motorbike, in every corner of the city he saw that PLN officers were busy repairing the electricity network. In heart, Simpra hopes that PLN can immediately restart electricity.

"PLN responded very quickly, I remember the 6th day after the earthquake, the Basuki Rahmat area was on. How happy I feel, for culinary entrepreneurs like me, it feels like the joints of life are starting to rise again, "he said.

The first day the electricity was on, the cafe reopened. Visitors start arriving. At that time most volunteers came.

"Since the electricity is back on, my cafe is never empty of visitors. My optimism soars. I am sure that other Palu residents also feel the same thing, "he said.

Simpra tries to imagine that electricity from PLN will not continue. He cannot use a generator for business. He realized that it would be more expensive to pay for oil.

"More than two weeks after the earthquake. The hammer returns bright. Life is gradually normal. PLN not only gives residents lighting information. PLN gave us optimism to rise again, "he said.

While delivering the visitors' orders, Simpra thanked the Managing Director of PLN, who swiftly sent one thousand more PLN volunteers from all over Indonesia to be able to return to illuminate Palu.

Regards Steemit Indonesia Community
@mukhtar.juned

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