Prolonged power crisis plunges Panzgam residents into darkness amid harsh winter
Residents demand intervention of higher ups
Shopian: The residents of Nai Basti in Panzgam area of Awantipora of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district have been grappling with a severe electricity crisis for over a month, as repeated transformer failures have left the locality without reliable power supply, pushing daily life to a standstill during the peak of winter.
According to locals, the transformer catering to the area has been replaced several times in recent weeks. However, every newly installed unit breaks down within an hour of being energized.
For nearly 20 days, this cycle of replacement and failure has continued unabated, raising serious questions about the quality and capacity of the transformers being provided.
“The transformers installed appear to be old, repaired, or technically unfit for the actual load of the area,” residents alleged, adding that the recurring failures point towards deeper technical flaws in the power distribution system.
Despite repeated complaints and appeals to the concerned field staff, residents said only temporary and superficial fixes have been attempted. “There has been no proper technical inspection of the distribution lines, feeder network, earthing system or load capacity. Without addressing these core issues, the transformers keep burning out,” a local resident said.
The situation has become particularly distressing due to the ongoing harsh winter conditions. With electricity being a basic necessity during this season, its prolonged absence has made normal living extremely difficult.
Locals highlighted that homes remain unbearably cold as heating appliances cannot be used, while children, elderly people and patients are exposed to serious health risks. Long winter nights pass in darkness, creating fear and insecurity, especially for women and children. Students are unable to study, severely affecting their education.
“The water supply has also been hit badly as electric motors cannot function and pipes freeze due to extreme cold,” residents said. They added that mobile phones cannot be charged, making emergency communication nearly impossible, while daily household chores and small home-based livelihoods have come to a halt. Continuous cold, darkness and uncertainty have taken a toll on the mental and physical well-being of the people.
Adding to their frustration, residents said they are regularly paying electricity bills exceeding Rs 2,000 per household every month despite receiving no consistent power supply. “Paying such hefty bills and still living without electricity for weeks is highly unjust and unacceptable,” they said.
The residents have now urged the concerned authorities to intervene immediately, demanding the installation of a brand-new transformer of adequate capacity instead of repaired or temporary units.
They have also called for a comprehensive technical inspection of the entire electrical infrastructure, proper load assessment, feeder line checks and effective load balancing to prevent repeated breakdowns.
Seeking a permanent and reliable solution, the residents appealed to the authorities to treat the issue as urgent and humanitarian, especially in view of the harsh winter and the mounting health risks.
