Pulwama, Aug 12 (KNO): Residents of Pulwama town and its adjoining areas have expressed strong resentment over unscheduled power cuts, particularly during the day, at a time when the valley is grappling with high temperatures.
Locals, speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said the outages, recently announced by the authorities, have made daily life difficult, especially for the elderly, patients, and students.
According to residents, they had been receiving an uninterrupted 24×7 power supply until last week. However, authorities suddenly introduced a four-hour outage schedule — two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening — affecting areas including Drusoo, Bonura, Bandzoo, Babhahra, Muchpuna, Gundipora, Tahab, Tanghar, Pinglena, and several parts of the main town. Even some localities equipped with smart meters have not been spared.
"We were getting round-the-clock electricity for months, but now we are forced to bear four hours of cuts every day," said Manzoor Ahmad, a resident of Bandzoo. "In this scorching heat, even two hours without power feels unbearable. Fans stop, water pumps don’t work, and the elderly in our homes suffer the most."
Locals said the new schedule has been implemented without prior consultation or public notice. "Suddenly, they changed the supply pattern. We were not even informed properly," said Shabnum Jan from Drusoo. "If smart meters are supposed to ensure uninterrupted power, then why are we also facing cuts?"
The outages have also hit patients hard. Several residents said that people dependent on medical equipment, such as oxygen concentrators, are at risk. "My father is on oxygen therapy, and every time the power goes out, we have to rush to switch on the backup. It is stressful and unsafe," said a distressed resident from the town area.
Locals have urged the Power Development Department (PDD) and district administration to intervene immediately.
"The government should restore the old 24×7 schedule or at least ensure that the cuts are minimised during daytime hours. We are ready to cooperate if there are genuine constraints, but people must not suffer silently," said Abdul Rashid, another resident.
Residents have warned that if the issue is not addressed soon, they will stage peaceful protests to press for their demands—(KNO)