Chandigarh: Punjab’s electricity crisis has intensified as peak power demand in the state surged to an all-time high of 17,423 megawatts. The unprecedented spike in requirement has put tremendous strain on the regional transmission and distribution infrastructure, raising widespread concerns about deepening power deficits across domestic, industrial, and agricultural sectors.
The sharp increase in demand has aggravated ongoing unscheduled power cuts, severely disrupting daily life and economic activity. Industrial manufacturing units, particularly across major manufacturing hubs, have reported significant operational delays and heavy financial losses due to irregular supply. At the same time, rural households and farmers relying heavily on electric tube wells during the critical paddy cultivation season are struggling with inconsistent electricity supply.
Growing public frustration over the recurring outages has triggered widespread agitation across the state. Multiple farming groups and local organisations have launched protests, holding state authorities accountable for poor energy planning and grid mismanagement. Demonstrators have staged indefinite sit-ins and rallies outside the residences of several ministers, demanding immediate intervention, uninterrupted power for irrigation, and systemic reforms to stabilise the electrical grid.
