As the temperature continues to soar in Gaya, Bihar, the power crisis in the city is becoming increasingly severe.
The relentless heat has made life unbearable, and frequent power cuts since the beginning of June have exacerbated the situation.
On Thursday morning, local residents struggling with power outages blocked the road near Kali Temple on Rang Bahadur Road in the Kotwali police station area, staging a protest to express their frustration.
Protesters reported that power cuts have plagued the area for about a week. Despite repeated complaints to the electricity department, no substantial action has been taken, and the problem persists even after repairs.
On Wednesday night, a large vehicle collided with a utility pole, causing a complete power outage in the area. Residents grew tired of waiting for repairs and decided to protest after their complaints went unaddressed.
The situation escalated when residents approached electricity department officials on Thursday morning, only to be told that repair workers would be sent later. After three hours passed without any repairmen arriving, the residents blocked the road in protest. The protest ended only when workers finally arrived to fix the damaged wires and poles.
The power crisis in Gaya has worsened with the onset of summer. In March, many parts of the city experienced four to five power cuts daily, but in the scorching heat of June, electricity is available for only 10 to 12 hours a day.
This severe power shortage, combined with the intense heat, has disrupted daily life, affected children’s studies, and led to sleepless nights for residents.
Additionally, many areas are facing water shortages due to the power cuts.
Executive Engineer Prem Kumar Praveen of the South Bihar Power Distribution Company’s urban area division explained that the excessive load on most transformers is causing the power supply issues. He noted that a significant number of air conditioners were installed in June, but increasing transformer capacity immediately is not feasible. Praveen assured that every effort is being made to maintain a steady power supply with the available resources.
However, the high demand has led to a surge in complaints, doubling the number compared to normal days. Despite deploying additional staff, it takes time to address all complaints. Praveen requested that consumers understand the electricity department’s challenges during this period.
