Kashmir’s winter deja vu: Unending saga of power outages distress people in freezing conditions 

Srinagar: As Chillai Kalan—the 40 harshest winter days—sets in, residents across many parts of Kashmir continue to grapple with unscheduled power outages in both metered and non-metered areas.

Electricity consumers in various regions of the valley have voiced their frustration, accusing the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) of failing to provide even the minimum expected services. Many allege that the corporation has made “empty promises” that remain undelivered.

Furqan Farooq, a resident of Kani Mazar in Srinagar’s Downtown, said the area is experiencing prolonged power cuts, making daily life increasingly difficult. “Despite the installation of smart meters in our area, we continue to endure unscheduled power outages. It seems KPDCL has either failed to adhere to the promised curtailment schedule or is making commitments it cannot fulfill,” he remarked.

“In these bone-chilling winters, we are forced to use icy water, which makes the situation even more unbearable,” Farooq added.

Imtiyaz Mir, another resident from Fateh Kadal, highlighted additional challenges, stating, “Not only are we facing extended power cuts, but the voltage during peak hours is extremely low.” He went on to say, “This year, power curtailment has worsened compared to previous years. We have a COPD patient at home, and the unscheduled outages and low voltage are putting their health at serious risk.”

Similarly, residents from Pulwama and Shopian districts in south Kashmir shared similar grievances. They accused the Power Development Department (PDD) of “failing miserably” to provide any relief amid the freezing temperatures.

A local from Pulwama stated, “Kashmir has been experiencing intense cold for over a month now, yet the authorities seem indifferent to addressing the issue of unscheduled power cuts.”

Complaints have also poured in from various parts of north and central Kashmir, with residents expressing their frustration over frequent outages and additional curtailments.

When contacted, senior officials from the PDD told Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the rising power demand due to extreme cold weather is a significant challenge.

“If there are areas experiencing unscheduled outages and distress cuts, we are working on resolving those issues,” an official said.

The official further added, “We have recently increased the power supply by 100-150 Megawatts (MWs). Additionally, we are focusing on minimizing Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses to ensure uninterrupted power supply as per the scheduled program.”

Notably, KNO reported earlier this week that the PDD has increased power supply in the Kashmir valley by 100-150 MWs to reduce unscheduled and distress power cuts.

“Some critical decisions were recently taken by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah regarding electricity issues in Jammu and Kashmir, and we have implemented those measures to address power cuts,” the official stated.

He added, “The KPDCL was receiving 1,500 MWs of power, which has now been increased to 1,600-1,650 MWs to address unscheduled outages. This additional power is already being supplied to consumers.” —(KNO)