Residents of Mohali district are facing severe power cuts as a strike by Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) employees continues. Several complaint centres in the area remain locked, leaving people with no one to turn to when the lights go out.
According to Hindustan Times, residents in Barmajra endured a night without electricity after a power outage struck around 8 pm on Saturday. Supply was only restored around 8.30 am on Sunday — meaning more than 12 hours without power.
Frustration boils over as complaint centres stay shut
Irate youths gathered by the roadside and outside the complaint centre in Barmajra, but there was no one to hear their grievances. The locked doors of PSPCL offices added to the sense of helplessness among residents.
In Phase 2 of Mohali, the situation was equally dire. Residents reported that the area remained without power for four to five hours after 11 am. One resident, Aman Seth, described the terrifying situation his family faced.
"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." — Aman Seth, Phase 2 resident, as reported by Hindustan Times
Strike leaves basic services in limbo
The ongoing strike by PSPCL staff has crippled the power distribution system in Mohali. With complaint centres locked, residents have no way to report faults or request repairs. This has left many families, especially those with medical emergencies, in a dangerous position.
According to Times of India, Mohali has been struggling with power cuts amid the PSPCL strike, with no immediate resolution in sight. The lack of communication from authorities has only deepened the frustration among residents.
Our Take: When a strike becomes a crisis for the vulnerable
This is not just an inconvenience — it is a public safety issue. When a power cut lasts over 12 hours in a residential area, and complaint centres are locked, the system has failed the people it is meant to serve.
The case of Aman Seth's mother on life support is a stark reminder that strikes by essential service workers can have life-threatening consequences. While workers have the right to protest, the government and PSPCL management must ensure that emergency services remain operational. Leaving citizens without power — and without any channel to complain — is unacceptable.
To put it plainly: the strike may be about workers' demands, but the ones paying the price are ordinary residents who have no control over this dispute. Both sides need to come to the table quickly, before another family faces a tragedy.