Citizens Distressed by Frequent Outages Amidst Scorching Heat; Department Remains Silent
Pirpainti/Barahat (Bhagalpur): The electricity situation in the areas covered by the Pirpainti and Barahat feeders in Bhagalpur district has become dire in recent days. Unscheduled power cuts have disrupted the daily lives of the public. While people are already struggling with intense heat and humidity, the poor functioning of the electricity department has further exacerbated the situation.
Public Outrage Over Power Cuts
Local citizens state that the power supply system has completely crumbled over the past few weeks. According to consumers, the situation was much better earlier, and there was a fixed schedule for power cuts. However, that has changed entirely; there is no certainty as to when the power will go out, be it day or night.
The most recent example of this mismanagement was witnessed on Sunday, when power supply remained completely shut off for nearly three hours across the entire region. With the scorching sun and humid heat, the lack of electricity made life miserable for the residents. Everything from children's studies to household chores and business activities was severely impacted.
Departmental Negligence and Hollow Promises
When local residents tried to contact electricity department personnel and officials regarding the issue, they received the usual scripted excuses of "technical glitches" or "maintenance." Local residents allege that instead of finding a permanent solution, the electricity department staff is merely making excuses.
A local shopkeeper said, "We have to pay hefty electricity bills every month, but we are not receiving adequate power in return. On Sunday, when the power was cut for three hours, not a single responsible official from the department bothered to pick up the phone."
Infrastructure Deficits or Mismanagement?
Experts believe that the primary reason for the power crisis in the Pirpainti and Barahat regions is the aging wiring, loose jumpers, and overcapacity loading. Due to the issuance of new connections without increasing the capacity of the feeders, pressure on the system has increased, causing the power to fail even during minor winds or rain.
The enlightened citizens of the region have now warned the department that if the power supply situation does not improve soon, they will be forced to launch a protest. They have demanded that maintenance work on the feeders be carried out on a war footing and a clear timetable for load shedding be issued.
When an attempt was made to contact the Junior Engineer of the local power substation regarding this matter, he stated that supply is interrupted due to technical faults in transformers in some places and tree branches hitting the power lines. He has assured that a "Special Maintenance Drive" will soon be conducted throughout the region so that consumers can receive uninterrupted power in the coming days.
For now, the citizens of Pirpainti and Barahat are relying on the department's assurances, but they are still waiting for actual improvements on the ground. This negligence by the electricity department is not only affecting people's daily lives but is also eroding public trust in the administrative system.
