Ahead of winter, unscheduled power cuts irk Tral residents
Locals demand strict power curtailment schedule, say outages worsen as temperatures dip
Pulwama: As winter approaches, residents of Tral in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district are up in arms over frequent and unscheduled power cuts that have disrupted their daily lives.
People across several localities in Tral sub division complained that despite paying regular electricity bills, they continue to suffer erratic power supply, especially during evening hours when demand peaks.
Locals said that the problem has worsened over the past few weeks, leaving students, shopkeepers, and households struggling. “We are facing power cuts every few hours without any prior notice. It’s very difficult for students to study during exam season, and the cold evenings have made things worse,” said Aijaz Ahmad, a resident of Tral town.
Another local, Farooq Ahmad Bhat, from Nowdal area, said that the authorities had promised an improved and scheduled power supply ahead of winter, but the situation remains unchanged. “Every year, we are told that power supply will be regulated as per a curtailment schedule, but in reality, electricity remains off most of the time. We are tired of false assurances,” he said.
Shopkeepers in the main market also expressed concern, saying the outages are affecting their business. “Frequent power cuts have made it difficult to run small businesses that depend on electricity. Even inverter batteries can’t keep up with the prolonged cuts,” said Mohammad Yousuf a trader from Bus Stand Tral.
Locals urged the Power Development Department (PDD) to announce a proper and transparent power curtailment schedule so that people can plan accordingly. They also demanded that the administration ensure adequate power supply during evening hours when temperatures drop significantly.
A PDD official said that the department is working to manage load and improve supply before the onset of harsh winter. “There is increased demand across Kashmir, and efforts are being made to minimize inconvenience. Transformer augmentation and maintenance work are also underway,” the official added.
