Vijayawada: Large parts of the state reeled under severe and prolonged power outages over the past few days, triggering widespread public anger. Despite repeated assurances from energy minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar that electricity supply disruptions would be restored within two hours, the ground reality remained drastically different, locals alleged.
Extended Blackouts Across Regions
A few towns and villages spent anywhere between 36 and 72 hours in darkness. The unannounced and erratic power cuts turned daily life into a nightmare for ordinary citizens. Elderly people, patients dependent on medical equipment, children, and small traders bore the brunt of the crisis, as soaring summer temperatures compounded their misery. In many areas, residents were left sleepless through humid nights without fans, drinking water supply, or mobile connectivity as batteries drained out.
Minister's Response and Explanations
Ravi Kumar convened a teleconference from Mahanadu with senior officials and asked them to take all possible measures to restore supply. He attributed the disruptions to unprecedented temperatures touching 48 degrees Celsius, heavy electricity consumption, and technical failures caused by gales and rains.
“There are no power cuts anywhere in the state. Interruptions are occurring only due to technical reasons such as damaged transmission lines, overheated transformers, and snapped conductors,” the minister said. He maintained that Andhra Pradesh was generating sufficient electricity to meet demand and claimed that additional staff had been deployed at call centres to address consumer complaints quickly.
Helpline Ineffectiveness
Residents alleged that the emergency toll-free helpline 1912 remained virtually clueless about the ground situation. In most cases, callers were repeatedly told that supply would be restored “shortly,” even as entire neighbourhoods remained without power for over a day.
Severe Impact in Kakinada and Jaggaiahpet
In Kakinada, residents faced over 12 hours of continuous blackout on Monday night. The situation was worse in Jaggaiahpet town of NTR district, where people endured more than 24 hours without electricity. Local officials cited tripping of a 33 KV substation due to heavy gales and rains.
Chimakurthy's Ongoing Ordeal
Granite hub Chimakurthy in Prakasam district has also been witnessing relentless outages for several days. Residents alleged that power supply was being cut for six to eight hours almost every day without prior notice. “We are suffering every day. Nobody tells us when power will go or when it will come back,” said local resident Maddi Venkateswarlu.
Additional Factors Cited
The minister also blamed unauthorised hoardings and flex banners for damaging electricity lines during storms.
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About the Author: Samdani MN is Editor (Politics-Andhra Pradesh), at the Times of India-Vijayawada. He covers political affairs in the state with a special focus on TDP, YSRCP and BJP. He has authority over irrigation, revenue, energy, excise, inter-state affairs, education, health, tourism and industries. He holds a postgraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and a degree in Law.
