Pathankot: Residents of several villages in Punjab’s Pathankot district staged a late-night protest outside the Mangwal electricity substation, alleging that frequent and prolonged power outages have made daily life increasingly difficult during the ongoing spell of intense heat and humidity.
The demonstration began around 2 a.m., when people from nearly a dozen villages assembled outside the power station and raised slogans against the electricity department, demanding an immediate restoration of regular power supply.
Leading the protest, the Sarpanch of Shekhupur Manjiri claimed that the issue was not new and had continued for years despite repeated complaints. According to him, residents are receiving electricity for only a few hours each day, leaving households without fans, coolers and essential electrical appliances during peak summer conditions.
Protesters alleged that attempts to contact department officials, including the Junior Engineer (JE) and Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), often prove futile as their calls reportedly go unanswered during power failures.
Villagers further claimed that electricity supply to several rural areas is disconnected whenever there are strong winds or minor weather disturbances in nearby localities. They alleged that villages including Tash Pind, Makhanpur, Barmal Jatta, Akhada, Manjiri Aryan, Jattan di Manjiri, Rajputan di Manjiri and Killpur are among those frequently affected.
As the protest gathered momentum, demonstrators accused the department of neglecting rural consumers and demanded a permanent solution rather than temporary assurances. They warned that if the power situation did not improve, larger protests could be organised in the coming days.
Some protesters also alleged that electricity to their villages was often interrupted while supply was maintained elsewhere, including industrial units, a claim that could not be independently verified.
Police personnel reached the power station after being informed about the gathering and remained at the site to ensure that the protest remained peaceful. No untoward incident was reported during the demonstration.
Despite repeated attempts by villagers to seek clarification, officials from the electricity department were reportedly unavailable for comment at the time of the protest. Residents have urged the authorities to address the issue urgently, saying uninterrupted electricity has become essential amid soaring temperatures across the region.
