Seven-Hour Power Outage Plunges Kalindipuram Into Darkness; Residents Condemn Power Department’s Apathy
PRAYAGRAJ: A prolonged power outage lasting over seven hours disrupted normal life across several localities of Prayagraj’s Kalindipuram area on Sunday, exposing once again the chronic inefficiency and indifference of the city’s electricity department.
The disruption began around 10 a.m., affecting power supply from the 1120-foot substation, leaving over 1,500 households in complete darkness and triggering a severe water crisis in Jagrati Apartment, Army Colony, Gokul Sector, Adipur, and Nandgaon Colony.
Residents tried to contact officials through the substation’s CUG (Closed User Group) helpline, but no one answered their calls.
Even after repeated attempts and later informing the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) in the afternoon, there was no immediate relief.
It was only after frustrated consumers reached out to Executive Engineer, Bamrauli, R.P. Singh, that the matter was finally taken up seriously. Electricity supply was restored around 5 p.m., nearly seven hours after the initial breakdown.
Power Cut in Naya Katra: Students Suffer Sleepless Night
In a separate incident, residents of Naya Katra suffered an overnight blackout on Sunday. The outage began unexpectedly late in the evening, plunging the area, including local hostels and lodges, into darkness.
About 45 students residing in a lodge near the Samiyamai Temple, some studying at the Allahabad University and others preparing for competitive exams, spent the entire night without electricity or water. “The power went off suddenly.
We thought it would return soon, but morning arrived before the lights did,” said Anil Kumar, one of the students.
Those who had mosquito nets managed somehow, but the rest struggled through a sleepless night amid suffocating heat and mosquito bites.
The absence of electricity in the morning also meant no running water for bathing or drinking.
When contacted, SDO Pawan Kumar of the Mayo Hall division stated that “no complaint was received” regarding the power failure.
However, even if the SDO’s claim holds, the ground reality paints a different picture. Power consumers in Prayagraj often choose not to complain — not because they are unaffected, but because they have lost faith in the department’s responsiveness.
Many residents said they would rather endure power cuts than waste hours chasing unresponsive officials.
Several consumers disclosed that electricians typically take more than half an hour to respond, even when directly instructed by the Sub-Station Officer (SSO).
“They arrive only after long delays and spend much of their time gossiping,” one resident remarked bitterly.
Worse, the repairs they perform rarely last beyond a week — a result of the poor-quality materials routinely used for maintenance.
Another consumer, requesting anonymity, alleged that the electricity department remains one of the most corrupt arms of local administration.
“Nothing moves without money,” he said. “In the last thirty years, I haven’t seen any real improvement. The number of consumers has increased manifold, but the quality of service remains abysmal. There is simply no accountability.”
He further explained that complaining often becomes an exercise in futility — “The file just keeps moving from one desk to another until the consumer gives up, exhausted. Who has the time or energy to run after such heartless people?”
Another resident concluded with quiet resignation: “It’s better to find alternatives. This department will never improve.”
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