Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Dec 5: Repeated and prolonged power outages across several areas of Kashmir have pushed residents to the edge, with families of oxygen-dependent patients saying the situation has become “unbearable” as temperatures continue to dip.
Locals from different areas of Kashmir said that despite paying monthly tariffs on time, electricity is being snapped unpredictably—sometimes for hours during peak evening and night hours.
Residents said that the lack of a proper power supply schedule has made daily life extremely difficult, and in many homes, patients who rely on oxygen concentrators or other medical devices are experiencing serious distress.
“My father needs oxygen support round the clock. Every time the power goes off, his breathing gets laboured. We are living in constant fear,” said Aashiq Ahmad, a resident of Pulwama.
He added that running the device on an inverter or generator is not always possible due to rising fuel and battery costs.
In Shopian, residents complained that despite assurances, the electricity supply is erratic and far from meeting winter requirements.
“We are not asking for 24×7 power. All we want is a fixed schedule so we can plan our day and manage the needs of elderly and sick family members,” said Suhail Lone, a local shopkeeper.
Families with infants and elderly people said the outages during early mornings and late evenings—when temperatures drop sharply—are the hardest to deal with. Many households have shifted to firewood and gas heaters, adding to expenses and safety worries.
Several areas reported that the voltage drops sharply even when power is restored.
“Most of our appliances have either burnt or developed faults. Low voltage is as big a problem as the outage itself,” said residents of Kulgam’s Yaripora hamlet
People urged the Power Development Department (PDD) to issue a clear and realistic load-shedding schedule and ensure it is followed on the ground.
“We aren’t against curtailment, but the cuts should be announced and managed properly. The current situation is chaotic,” said Shabnum Jan from Anantnag.
Local residents have appealed to the administration to intervene, especially to safeguard households with medical emergencies.
“If the government can’t ensure uninterrupted power, at least they should provide scheduled supply so that oxygen-dependent patients won’t suffer,” said another resident.
Meanwhile, officials from the Power Department said they are aware of the issues but attributed the curtailments to an increased winter load and said that they are trying level best to provide scheduled supply.
