Residents of Mohali endured prolonged power outages as the strike by Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) technical employees and outsourced workers entered its sixth day, with complaint centres locked and officials unreachable.
Barmajra Without Power for 12 Hours
In Barmajra, a power outage struck around 8 pm on Saturday, and supply was restored only around 8:30 am on Sunday, subjecting residents to a night without electricity. Irate youths gathered by the roadside and outside the complaint centre, but found no one to address their grievances.
Phase 2 Residents Face Hours-Long Cuts
Residents of Phase 2 reported power cuts lasting four to five hours starting after 11 am. Aman Seth, a pharmaceutical dealer living in Phase 2, expressed anguish: 'Where do I take my mother, who is on life support, when even the backup in my inverter runs out? There has been no power supply for more than four hours.' He also noted that the nearest complaint centre was locked and no PSPCL official answered phone calls.
Phase 7 Hit by Afternoon Blackout
Dr Vijay, a resident of Phase 7, said there was no power in two rows of houses—from House No. 2555 to House No. 2570—from afternoon until 9:30 pm. 'The complaint office has been closed for the past two to three days,' he stated.
Strike Demands and Impact
The strike by PSPCL technical employees and outsourced staff, which began six days ago, has severely affected electricity restoration in several areas, putting increasing pressure on Punjab's power distribution network. Complaint centres remain shut, and repair work has come to a standstill. Power grids are being operated by senior officials. In Nayagaon, PSPCL officials appealed to residents to 'please make conservative use of appliances to avoid any breakdown, attending to which may be time-consuming due to the strike.' The protesting unions are demanding 'equal work, equal pay' and the regularisation of outsourced workers.
