Mohali Residents Grapple with Prolonged Power Outages Amid Heat Wave Alert
The residents of Mohali are facing significant hardship as they endure prolonged power outages lasting between 4 to 8 hours daily for the past four days. This disruption comes at a critical time when the meteorological department has issued a yellow alert warning of an intense heat wave sweeping across Punjab.
Scheduled Power Cuts and Official Explanation
According to the schedule released by the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), planned power supply disruptions are set to continue in many parts of Mohali district. The specific timings are as follows: April 22 from 10am to 6pm, April 23 from 9:30am to 5:30pm, April 24 from 9:30am to 5:30pm, and April 25 from 10am to 2pm.
In a public notice, the power utility has stated that these long-duration electricity cuts will persist until April 26, affecting major cities across the state including Mohali, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Bathinda, and Patiala.
The PSPCL has attributed these outages to ongoing work aimed at strengthening and modernizing the electricity distribution system. Officials explained that the staggered schedule has been carefully designed to facilitate essential infrastructure upgrades. While efforts will be made to minimize disruption, residents should expect extended daytime outages during this period.
Resident Concerns and Frustrations
The power cuts have triggered widespread concern among residents, particularly given the rising temperatures and heat wave conditions. Many have expressed deep frustration over both the timing and duration of these outages.
Jagdev Singh, a resident of Mohali's Phase-VII, voiced his distress: "We are already dealing with extreme heat, and these long power cuts are making it unbearable, especially for children and the elderly."
Amrik Singh from Phase 3B2 criticized the planning: "There should have been better planning. At least during peak summer, essential services like electricity must be ensured without such long interruptions."
Impact on Daily Life and Work
Several residents have highlighted how these power cuts are severely impacting their daily routines and professional responsibilities. A Mullanpur resident explained: "Work from home has become difficult, and even basic activities like cooking and accessing water are affected."
With temperatures expected to remain high in the coming days, residents are urgently calling on authorities to reconsider the current schedule or provide alternative arrangements to minimize inconvenience during the heat wave. The combination of extreme weather and prolonged electricity disruption has created a challenging situation for thousands of households across the district.
