Thatri, Bantalab reel under prolonged power outage

Srinagar, Aug 29: Residents of Thatri in Bantalab and adjoining areas in Jammu are reeling under severe power outages, with entire localities left in darkness for hours.Aggrieved consumers said that the crisis has paralyzed daily life as inverters have drained out, Wi-Fi is down, and phones have gone dead, cutting them off from work and communication.According to the locals, the disruption began early Friday morning. “The electricity went off at 4 am, and after that we only got it for ten minutes in the entire day,” said a local resident. “We were promised 24×7 electricity after installation of smart meters, but on the ground there is nothing like that. Instead, we are being forced to pay hefty tariff bills while living without basic supply.”With power gone for long stretches, households and businesses are struggling. Many residents depend on internet services for work and studies, but with no Wi-Fi and dead phones, they are unable to function. “Our children cannot attend online classes, we cannot work, and even basic communication has collapsed,” said another resident.The outage has also left vulnerable groups such as patients dependent on medical devices extremely anxious. “My father uses a nebulizer at night. With no electricity, we are scared,” said a resident in Bantalab.Despite repeated complaints, locals allege there has been no official response. Attempts to contact officials of the Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL) went unanswered. Residents say they feel abandoned at a time when the government claims round-the-clock power supply in metered areas.“On paper they say 24×7 supply, but the ground reality is total darkness,” a resident remarked in frustration. “Why should we be forced to pay bills for a service we are not receiving,” they asked.The crisis has reignited public anger against smart meters, which authorities had justified as a step toward uninterrupted electricity.Instead, residents complain that outages have become longer and more frequent.People in Thatri and adjoining areas are demanding immediate restoration of electricity and a clear explanation from JPDCL. “We want transparency. If there is a fault, tell us. If there is load shedding, announce it. But leaving us without power and without answers is unacceptable,” said one resident.