Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 18 September 2023
Residents of Port Blair City and its adjoining areas were left grappling with a frustrating power outage that lasted for over five hours, adding to their long-standing woes related to power supply in the region. The outage, which commenced in the afternoon and persisted till the evening, brought daily life in the region to a standstill.
In Dollygunj area Electricity Supply abruptly ceased at approximately 12:50 PM and was only restored at around 6:20 PM.
Power restoration efforts commenced, but it wasn’t until after 6:00 PM that residents in various parts of Port Blair City began to see their electricity supply return to normal.
Amid the blackout, many consumers of the Electricity Department received text messages alerting them of power interruption in their areas. The department cited a “clash in LT busbar at Chatham Power House” as the reason behind the prolonged power cut, which was scheduled to last from 1:30 PM to 8:30 PM.
Residents of Port Blair and the surrounding areas have long been grappling with a persistent power crisis, with no apparent solution on the horizon. The frustration over these recurring power problems has only intensified over time.
Surprisingly, the official ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) handle of the Electricity Department, did not provide any updates or explanations regarding the prolonged power cut. The handle’s last tweet dates back to April, and it has remained dormant since then, leaving residents in the dark, both literally and figuratively.
Beyond the extended power cuts, the frequent interruptions in electricity supply throughout the day have compounded the challenges faced by the residents, making daily life even more difficult.
Given the persistent power-related issues in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the local administration is facing increasing pressure to find a long-term solution to the power woes faced by the islanders. Residents are calling for urgent action to bring an end to the chronic power shortages and disruptions that have plagued the region for years.