Over 6-hours curtailment amid heat wave makes life tough for Maharajgunj residents

Srinagar, Aug 05: The residents of Mahargunj in Srinagar's Downtown area have complained about the irregular power curtailment in the area, which they said has made life difficult for them.

Babies, pregnant women, and elder people especially those who are on life support like Oxygen Concentrators are the worst affected, residents said.

The exaggerated curtailment, residents said happens despite them paying electricity bills over Rs 2000.

As the area is congested and most of the residential buildings don't have much space, the residents lamented the fact that during the curtailment in evening hours they have to take their infants out in the streets or at the banks of Jhelum to counter the heat and get some relief.

In addition to the heat, the unscheduled and over 8-hours curtailment has impeded the domestic chores, including cooking in the area.

"We don't know when to cook, when to wash clothes, and do other chores. We just lie down helplessly amid sweltering heat," said a woman on the condition of anonymity.

Speaking to Greater Kashmir, Executive Engineer for ED-III, Firdous Ahmad said that there is a 6-hours curtailment schedule for the non-metered areas, but an hour or more extra happens due to shutdowns and metering in the area.

He said that the all the feeders of the area will be metered in three-months, and after that only one-hour curtailment would take place.

About giving some relief to the residents by providing some more electricity, Ahmad said that he will look into this and try to lessen the curtailment.