Jammu, June 23: The Jammu region has once again been engulfed by scorching summer heat, and the absence of electricity in the summer months has become an annual ritual, leaving the city’s hapless residents struggling with excruciatingly long power outages.
Jammu has been transformed into an unforgiving furnace due to the lack of electricity, leaving families vulnerable and distressed.
Tall claims made by the Power Development Department (PDD) of a power-cut-free summer in metered areas have proven to be nothing more than a cruel hoax, exacerbating Jammu people’s frustration and despair.
The areas bearing the brunt of intermittent power curtailment include Lower Thathar, Bantalab, Muthi areas, Krishna Nagar, Bakshi Nagar, Gurha, Shakti Nagar, Satwari, Gandhi Nagar, Sainik Colony, Chhatha,Canal Road and their adjoining areas – all of which are metered zones.
Chief Engineer Power Development Department, Sandeep Seth, told Rising Kashmir that there are no concerns regarding the electricity supply in Jammu.
He said that there is a power consumption of around 1100 MW in Jammu .
He, however, abruptly dropped the call without providing comprehensive details and failed to acknowledge subsequent phone calls.
Meanwhile, AEE Janipur , HS Puri acknowledged the hardships endured by residents due to electricity cutoffs.
He informed that in the rural areas, a curtailment of power lasting for a duration of 6-8 hours , as they dutifully adhere to the directives issued by higher authorities.
R.K Gupta , a local resident of Canal Road told Rising Kashmir that the absence of electricity has turned our homes into suffocating ovens, transformed into torturous chambers of heat.
“Life comes to a grinding halt in Jammu as fans cease to rotate, refrigerators fall silent, and the comforting hum of air conditioners becomes nothing but a distant memory, food spoils, essential medicines languish without refrigeration, and the stifling environment breeds a sense of suffocation that permeates every corner of our lives,” Gupta said.
The absence of a proactive approach in addressing power supply challenges has left the residents of Jammu in a state of helplessness, as they endure prolonged hours without electricity.
Manpreet (30),another local resident from Gandhi Nagar questioned, “We are prisoners in our own homes with no electricity, trapped in a never-ending cycle of sweat and discomfort. How can one sleep or find respite amidst this suffocating darkness?,”.
He said that they are regularly paying their electricity bills on time, expecting an uninterrupted power supply in return, but unfortunately enduring endless power outages while the mercury soars, It feels like a betrayal of our trust and a mockery of the department’s assurances.
Preeti, a local resident of Lower Thathar said “The scenario in Jammu is beyond appalling, despite metered area, and JKPDD’s assurance to give uninterrupted power supply, we are left in darkness”.
She said that the installation of smart meters was intended to alleviate the power crisis, but instead, it has only exacerbated the situation, leaving consumers disillusioned and without electricity.
“The absence of electricity not only steals our physical comfort but also the hope of a normal existence,” she said.
Seema from lower Roop Nagar echoes the same problem by saying that the absence of electricity during the summer months has become a haunting reality for the people of Jammu.
“Despite assurances from the authorities to tackle this chronic issue, the situation remains dire, leaving citizens to fend for themselves in the sweltering heat,” Seema said.
She said that the populace grapples with the harsh reality of no electricity, Banquet halls continue to shine brightly, seemingly indifferent to the plight of the suffering masses, these establishments, characterized by their excessive use of decorative lighting and ornate lamps, serve as a glaring symbol of the systemic failure and insensitivity that has plagued the city.
“Authorities should raid such places where electricity is being used imprudently and preserve further unnecessary consumption of electricity,” she said.
An astonishing sight unfolds in the late hours of the night 11:30pm , frustrated by the prolonged power outages, residents gather near the banks of the Ranbir Canal, seeking respite from the oppressive heat by immersing themselves in its cool waters.
Bashir Ahmad , a local resident of Canal Road said that late-night bathing sessions in the Ranbir canal have become a common occurrence, the lack of electricity drives desperate Jammuites to seek solace by immersing themselves in the canal’s cool waters.
“Bathing at the stroke of midnight has become a ritual of survival for the locals, as they cling to any source of relief they can find amidst the darkness,” he said.
The agricultural community has been severely impacted by the persistent power cuts.
“As the paddy season approaches, farmers who rely on motor pumps for irrigation face insurmountable obstacles due to the lack of electricity, with their fields parched and in dire need of water, the absence of a reliable power supply puts their livelihoods at stake,” Mohinder Singh , local resident from RS Pura said, , adding that the inability to operate their motors and water their crops threatens the sowing of basmati, a crucial cash crop for the region, further exacerbating the economic woes faced by the farming community,”.
He said that the absence of electricity also casts a shadow over education, with students deprived of the basic tools necessary for learning, Schools and colleges become stifling hothouses, rendering academic pursuits futile and undermining the aspirations of the city’s youth.
The residents of Jammu earnestly urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to intercede in this pressing issue and expeditiously bring about its resolution.
