Southern sectors of Chandigarh reel under power outages

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 2

Amid intense heat, residents of southern sectors bore the brunt of long power cuts on Thursday night as the demand reached a high of 405 MW. Many areas faced electricity outages for up to four hours.

‘Tough for elderly’

Ajay Pal, a resident of Sector 63, said there was no electricity in the area from 10.45 pm to 2.30 am, making it difficult for elders and children to bear the heat.

Ajay Pal, a resident of Sector 63, said there was no electricity in the area from 10.45 pm to 2.30 am, making it difficult for elders and children to bear the heat.

Hitesh Puri, chairman, Chandigarh Residents Associations’ Welfare Federation (CRAWFED), said he received complaints of long power cuts from RWAs of Sector 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 45, 45, 47, 50, etc. In Sector 43, there was no electricity from 11 pm to 1.30 am on Thursday night. The situation was no different in other areas of southern sectors. Students and people working from home were the worst sufferers during the long power cuts, he added.

Baljinder Singh Bittu, president, Federation of Sector Welfare Associations of Chandigarh, said the supply was near normal today but it was marred by voltage fluctuation.

Anil Dhamija, Superintending Engineer (Electricity), said the peak hour consumption had reached 405 MW on Thursday. Due to a breakdown in a circuit in Mohali, various areas in southern sectors faced electricity outage, he said and added that the fault was rectified and normal power supply was restored last night only. He, however, said the power supply during the day was normal and the consumption also came down due to change in weather today.

While monsoon is yet to arrive, the temperature has been on the rise in the city. The UT Meteorology Department has predicted cloudy conditions with a possibility of light rain tomorrow.