“Rising temperatures in Valley have triggered a recurring crisis of unscheduled power cuts, particularly in Srinagar. Instead of providing relief after winter, these long outages during hot days and humid nights cause widespread frustration for residents, students, patients, and business owners.”
As temperatures rise across the Valley, the recurring crisis of unscheduled power cuts has once again become a major point of concern, especially in key areas of Srinagar. What should have been a season of relief after the harsh winter is increasingly turning into a period of frustration for residents, traders, students, patients, and business owners who are forced to endure long hours without electricity during peak summer days and humid nights. The issue is not merely about inconvenience anymore. Electricity has become a basic necessity that powers daily life, healthcare, education, communication, trade, and essential services. Frequent outages in many parts of Srinagar are disrupting normal life at a time when the city is witnessing heightened activity due to multiple important occasions and events. Most importantly, Eid-ul-Adha is approaching. Markets are crowded, bakeries and butcher shops are preparing for increased demand, and households are busy with festive arrangements. At such a crucial time, prolonged power cuts badly affect refrigeration, water supply systems, small businesses, and domestic comfort. For many families, especially those with elderly members and children, the situation becomes extremely difficult during warm nights without electricity. Adding to this pressure is the annual Shri Amarnath Yatra, which begins next month. Srinagar serves as a major transit and administrative hub during the Yatra period. Thousands of pilgrims, service providers, transport operators, hoteliers, and officials depend on uninterrupted electricity for smooth functioning. Any failure in basic infrastructure during this period risks damaging the image of the administration and creates unnecessary hardship for both locals and visitors. At the same time, Darbar Move employees and officials are presently stationed in Srinagar for the summer season, leading to increased demand for electricity in government offices and residential areas. Hospitals, hotels, government establishments, and commercial centres are all operating at full capacity. This naturally requires a more efficient and stable power supply system.
“Despite repeated promises of infrastructure upgrades, persistent unscheduled power cuts continue to disrupt daily life. The Power Development Department must shift from reactive to proactive action—upgrading faulty transformers and feeders, and issuing transparent curtailment schedules. With major cultural and seasonal events approaching, delivering reliable, essential electricity must be treated as an urgent administrative priority.”
The growing anger among residents is understandable because promises of improved electricity infrastructure have been repeatedly made over the years. Smart meters, upgraded transformers, and power development projects were projected as long-term solutions. Yet, every summer and winter, consumers continue to face the same uncertainty. In many localities, residents complain that there is no proper schedule for power cuts, making it impossible to plan daily activities. Authorities must understand that the people are not demanding luxury; they are asking for a dependable essential service. The Power Development Department must act proactively instead of reactively. Faulty transformers should be replaced without delay, overloaded feeders must be upgraded, and a transparent power curtailment schedule should be issued wherever necessary. Communication with the public also needs improvement so that consumers are informed rather than left guessing. This is the time for action, not excuses. With Eid around the corner, the Amarnath Yatra approaching, and Srinagar witnessing increased seasonal activity, uninterrupted power supply should be treated as a top administrative priority. The government must ensure that the summer capital does not continue to suffer in darkness during one of the busiest and most sensitive periods of the year.
