Lohegaon, 27th June 2023: The residents of Porwal Road and its surrounding areas in Lohegaon, Pune, have been enduring a distressing power outage lasting over 30 hours. The prolonged blackout has caused significant disruptions to both professional and personal lives, leaving frustrated citizens to question the efficiency of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL). Adding to the challenges, heavy rainfall has led to an increase in mosquito activity in the city, exacerbating the difficulties faced by the affected residents.
According to reports, MSEDCL officials have been providing misleading information since the early morning of the outage, falsely assuring residents that power would be restored within one or two hours. Nishikant Raut, the public relations officer of MSEDCL in Pune, initially stated around 9 am yesterday that electricity would be back within two hours. However, as the day progressed, it became apparent that the situation was far from resolved. By evening, Raut claimed that power had been restored in most areas, with only a few societies still facing issues. Later in the night, around 8 pm, he further declared that electricity would be fully restored within half an hour. Yet, as the following morning arrived, it was evident that several societies, including Tranquil Park on Porwal Road and nearby regions, were still engulfed in darkness.
The affected residents are expressing their frustration as the prolonged power outage continues to disrupt their daily routines and take a toll on their mental well-being. Families with children are particularly distressed, as the absence of electricity has resulted in sleepless nights due to increased mosquito infestation.
The consequences of the power outage have extended beyond personal inconveniences, posing risks to essential household items. Madhuri Patel, an IT professional, relies on her electric vehicle for commuting, but due to the power outage, her vehicle remains uncharged, impeding her daily transportation needs. Furthermore, perishable items such as food, vegetables, and fruits are at risk of spoiling in refrigerators, rendering them unusable.
The severity of the situation has prompted residents to contemplate filing a police complaint against MSEDCL, holding the company accountable for the prolonged and disruptive power outage. The affected citizens argue that false commitments and a lack of prompt action have further aggravated their hardships.
An official from the Vishrantwadi Division of MSEDCL provided some insights into the ongoing situation, stating, “I am currently at the location where the issue has occurred. Only a few societies have been affected, and we have identified a problem with the transformer. We estimate that the necessary repairs will be completed within the next two hours. Our team has been working diligently since yesterday to resolve the situation and restore power to the affected areas.”
As the residents of Porwal Road eagerly await the restoration of electricity, they hope that MSEDCL will take swift and effective measures to rectify the inefficiencies that have led to this prolonged power outage, preventing such disruptions in the future.
