Trans-Giri villages plunge into darkness for 24 hours

As the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) pushes for consumer KYC compliance and the installation of smart metres across the state, residents of the Trans-Giri area in Sirmaur district are raising serious concerns about the deplorable state of the electricity supply.

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Persistent outages during inclement weather have left more than 50 gram panchayats in darkness for up to 24 hours, with locals questioning the relevance of modernisation efforts when basic power infrastructure remains unreliable.

On Monday, heavy rain and snowfall disrupted power supply from the Charna substation to Haripurdhar, Panog, Ronhat and Kupvi areas. Despite no visible faults in the lines, the supply remained cut off for over 24 hours, plunging more than hundreds of villages into darkness. Power was restored only by late Tuesday morning, leaving people to endure freezing nights without electricity.

Residents frustrated

In some parts of the region, including Nohra Dhar, power resumed by Monday evening, but for most areas like Haripurdhar, Kupvi, Ronhat and Gattadhar complete blackouts persisted until the following day. Similar disruptions were reported from nearly 90 per cent of the Shillai constituency, where electricity was restored after almost a day. The prolonged outages not only disrupted daily life but also caused widespread public outrage, with residents accusing the electricity board of negligence.

The power cuts had cascading effects on essential services. Pumping operations for water supply schemes came to a halt, leading to a severe drinking water crisis in many villages. Government offices, banks, and Lok Mitra Kendras were unable to function, causing significant inconvenience to the public. Locals alleged that power was deliberately disconnected at the Charna substation without any technical faults being addressed, leaving thousands to cope with the cold and disrupted routines.

HPSEB’s response

Sirmaur HPSEB Superintending Engineer Darshan Thakur refuted allegations of deliberate negligence, saying that the situation arose due to adverse weather conditions. He said the Charna, Panog, Habban, Kupvi, and Rajgarh substations were all connected to a single line from Gauda. Identifying faults in such an interconnected system, especially when lines traverse snow-covered forests, can be a time-consuming task. Thakur assured that the department was committed to resolving electricity issues promptly and providing uninterrupted service to consumers.

He further clarified that power supply to all areas in Sirmaur district was fully restored by Tuesday. Thakur highlighted the efforts of HPSEB’s field staff, who work in adverse conditions to identify and rectify faults caused by heavy snowfall and rain.

However, residents continue to express frustration, stating that the board’s modernisation agenda, including KYC and smart meters, is of little relevance when basic electricity needs remain unmet.

The recurring outages during winter months have amplified calls for the state electricity board to prioritise improving core infrastructure. As snowfall intensifies across Himachal Pradesh, reliable power supply is a necessity, not a luxury, for regions like Trans-Giri that are already grappling with severe weather conditions. For now, while HPSEB officials defend their efforts, the ground reality in Sirmaur paints a stark contrast, with public discontent growing louder against an electricity system that falters when it is needed most.

•  Water supply: Pumping operations came to a halt, leading to a severe drinking water crisis in many villages
• Government offices: Offices, banks, and Lok Mitra Kendras were unable to function, causing significant inconvenience to the public