Bhubaneswar: Frequent and prolonged power cuts appeared to have made life miserable for people across Odisha as the state is already reeling under extremely severe heatwave and humid weather.
With recurring power outage amid sweltering heat compounding their woes, people in different parts of the state have started raising their voice, demanding uninterrupted supply of electricity.
Information received from the districts showed that power outages have become a regular feature in several areas over the past few days. It is alleged that electricity is being cut repeatedly for hours. Repeated complaints lodged with the authorities concerned seemed to have gone unheeded, triggering anger among the people.
Angry over the worsening situation, people have staged demonstrations in different parts of the state. Adopting unique methods to express their annoyance, people were seen wearing saree as a mark of protest to highlight their plight caused by power cuts during the extreme heat.
In some places, protesters intensified their agitation and resorted to road blockades, disrupting traffic and demanding immediate action from authorities.
Speaking on disruptions in power supply, Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo said that the situation arising out of the prevailing heatwave conditions is beyond anyone’s control. He said electricity demand has surged significantly during peak hours due to increased use of air conditioners and cooling appliances.
Singh Deo, who holds the Energy portfolio, said that the excessive demand is resulting in overloading of power infrastructure, causing transformers to burn out in several places. However, he assured that the government and power distribution agencies are taking steps to restore electricity supply at the earliest possible time.
He said efforts are ongoing to ensure uninterrupted power supply for consumers and to minimise inconvenience during the ongoing heatwave.
