Kupwara, Feb 21: Consumers across Kupwara district have alleged unscheduled power cuts during the holy month of Ramadhan, especially at Sehri and Iftar hours, causing inconvenience to families observing the fast.
Residents from Handwara, Kupwara town, Langate, Mawer, Qaziabad and several adjoining areas said the electricity supply remains erratic despite official claims that the load schedule is normal.
They said frequent and sudden outages at crucial hours have disrupted daily routines, particularly early in the morning and at sunset when families prepare meals and gather for prayers.
In some metered areas of Kupwara, consumers said the situation remains unchanged. They said that even after installing meters and paying regular bills, they continue to face power cuts similar to non-metered areas. “We pay our electricity dues on time. Still, we face unscheduled cuts during important hours. There should be some relief for metered areas,” said a resident from Kupwara town.
Mohammad Maqbool, a resident of Handwara, told Rising Kashmir that the situation has not changed over the years. “For us, the power situation remains the same throughout the year. We face cuts in every season. During Ramadhan, it becomes more difficult, especially at Sehri and Iftar. We expect better management at least this month,” he said.
Shabir Ahmad from Kupwara town said the authorities should understand the importance of uninterrupted supply during specific hours. “Sehri time is very important. Families wake up early and prepare meals. When power goes off without notice, it creates unnecessary problems in cooking and other household work,” he said.
Rafiqa Begum, a resident of Kralpora, said power cuts during Iftar hours affect the entire atmosphere at home. “At Iftar time, everyone sits together after a long day of fasting. We cannot even keep the lights on properly. Sometimes electricity remains off for one or two hours, and there is no information from the department,” she said.
Locals alleged that while the government maintains that the load schedule is normal, the ground situation does not reflect those claims. They demanded prior information about outages and a fixed schedule to avoid confusion and inconvenience during the holy month.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kupwara Shrikant Suse reviewed the status of power supply in the district. He directed the concerned officials to ensure an uninterrupted power supply, especially during Sehri and Iftar times during the holy month of Ramadhan.
