Hashim Bilal
Srinagar,June 17: Residents of Pandan Nowhatta and nearby areas have been facing a complete power outage since 3 PM on Monday, leaving them frustrated and struggling to cope with the soaring temperatures. The prolonged disruption has not only caused discomfort but also posed risks to life and livelihoods.
Locals say that the Power Development Department (PDD) has not been able to find the fault even after more than 24 hours, even though the electric wires are clearly visible on the poles. “If they can’t fix the problem when the wires are right in front of them, how will they manage when the wires go underground?” asked Ishfaq Ahmad, a local resident.
“In this sizzling heat, our children and elders are suffering badly. We didn’t sleep the whole night. It’s suffocating inside our homes,” he added.
Abdul Majeed, another resident, expressed concern over untrained locals assisting linemen with electrical repairs. “People from the area are trying to help restore the power, but they have no expertise in handling wires. It is extremely dangerous, but they are doing it out of desperation,” he said.
For local businesses, the outage has resulted into direct losses. Umar Hilal, a shopkeeper who sells frozen goods, said, “I had just stocked up ice creams for the week. Everything has started melting. I have already faced losses. If this continues, I will have to throw everything away.”
The outage has also endangered patients dependent on electric medical equipment. “My father is on oxygen support at home. Last night, the machine stopped working, and we had to arrange a cylinder at midnight. We are scared for his life,” said Farooq Ahmad, another distressed local.
Meanwhile, when Gulistan News interacted with the Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) at ground zero, he said, “We are working on the issue and it will be resolved soon.”(Gulistan News)
