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NASIR ALI
Srinagar: As Srinagar continues to experience an intense heatwave with temperatures crossing 35 degrees Celsius, residents across the city are facing a double crisis of prolonged power outages and an acute shortage of drinking water, triggering widespread public resentment.
Consumers from both Uptown and Downtown localities have alleged that unscheduled power cuts, coupled with day-long maintenance shutdowns carried out by the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL), have made life extremely difficult during one of the hottest spells the Valley has witnessed in recent years.
Residents said electricity interruptions have become frequent over the past months, with many areas witnessing hours-long outages . While KPDCL has been carrying out scheduled maintenance to strengthen the power distribution network, consumers questioned the timing of such exercises amid the prevailing heatwave.
“There is no denying that maintenance is important, but why should it be carried out when temperatures are touching record highs? It could have been postponed until the weather became relatively cooler,” said a resident of Rawalpora.
People said prolonged outages have disrupted daily life, particularly affecting children, elderly persons and patients who are finding it increasingly difficult to cope with the extreme heat.
In many areas, residents said they remained without electricity for several hours during the daytime, forcing families to rely on battery-operated fans or generators wherever available. Several traders also complained that frequent power cuts were affecting business activities, especially shops dealing in perishable goods.
Consumers said they were not against maintenance work but wanted the authorities to adopt a more people-friendly approach while planning shutdowns.
“We understand that infrastructure requires repairs and upgrades, but there should be proper planning. If maintenance cannot be avoided, it should either be carried out during cooler hours or after the current heatwave subsides,” another resident said.
The electricity crisis has been compounded by an equally serious drinking water shortage that has affected several localities across Srinagar.
Residents from both Downtown and Uptown areas alleged that potable water supply has either become highly irregular or has stopped altogether in many neighbourhoods, forcing families to depend on private water suppliers.
People from several affected areas said taps remain dry for most part of the day despite consumers paying water charges regularly.
“We have tap connections and pay water bills every month, but there is hardly any water available. We are now forced to purchase drinking water from private suppliers, which has become an additional financial burden on our families,” said a resident of Batmaloo.
Another resident from the old city said the crisis has become particularly difficult due to the prevailing hot weather, as demand for drinking water has increased considerably.
Residents alleged that they are spending a significant portion of their monthly income on purchasing drinking water while simultaneously paying regular water bills to the concerned department.
Several families said they have repeatedly approached local officials regarding the shortage but claimed that the problem continues without any lasting solution.
The twin crises have left residents frustrated, with many questioning why essential public services are failing precisely when demand is at its peak.
People said uninterrupted electricity is vital during the ongoing heatwave, not only for comfort but also for operating water pumps, refrigerators, medical equipment and other essential household appliances.
Similarly, they said access to safe drinking water cannot be compromised during extreme weather conditions when the risk of dehydration and heat-related illnesses increases substantially.
Many residents urged the administration to ensure that maintenance work is planned in a manner that causes minimum inconvenience to consumers. They also appealed to the concerned departments to immediately restore regular drinking water supply in affected areas and deploy water tankers wherever necessary until normal services are resumed.
Residents expressed hope that the authorities would take immediate notice of the situation and put in place effective measures to ease the hardships being faced by people during the ongoing spell of extreme summer heat.
The prolonged heatwave, coupled with disruptions in electricity and drinking water supply, has turned daily life into a challenge for thousands of households across Srinagar, with many saying they are simply seeking uninterrupted access to two of the most basic necessities power and water.
