Hit by power failures, Kharar residents invade grid substation

MOHALI: With heat wave reaching its peak, power failures in different parts of Mohali have started getting on the nerves of locals. The situation escalated in a locality in Kharar, where frustrated residents stormed the power substation late at night, raising slogans against Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). Around 25 to 30 residents barged into the substation around 11 pm, prompting intervention of the police and PSPCL officers to restore order.
The situation was somehow diffused with people returning to their houses. Despite the protest, the power supply to the area could was restored only almost after five hours.

Gurbaksh Singh, a resident of Sunny Enclave, Kharar, expressed his exasperation, saying, “This is an annual problem that has persisted for years, with no significant improvements. Governments come and go, but we, the residents, continue to face these decades-old issues every year.”
Residents of Mohali and its surrounding areas, including Baltana in Zirakpur and Kharar, have been grappling with severe power outages and voltage fluctuations, leading to widespread discontent and protests.
In Baltana, residents reported significant damage to their electrical appliances due to high voltage spikes. Ram Bhaj Garg, a resident of Modern Enclave, claimed that he lost an air conditioner, three LED bulbs, and a refrigerator. Dharamchand, a local shopkeeper, also reported damage to two tubelights and a ceiling fan. Many other residents shared similar incidents where their appliances, including inverters, coolers, tube lights, and air conditioners, were damaged by power fluctuations.
The power crisis has severely impacted services like water supply in several parts of Mohali district. Residents Pramod Kumar and Puneet Agarwal said the power issues have led to a shortage of drinking water.