Chandigarh experienced a six-hour power cut on Sunday. The cut, imposed on nearly half the city from 10 am to 4 pm, was due to a technical snag in the 56-KV sub-station located at Mohali.

With the Mohali sub station, the 66 KV sub-station near the Punjab Civil Secretariat in Chandigarh also went out of order, resulting in the disruption. The worst affected areas included a few villages and the northern and southern sectors, including parts of Sector 34, 35, 36, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 28, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 27.

Secretary (Engineering) Sanjay Kumar said, “The power situation in Chandigarh is far better than neighbouring states. Mohali and Panchkula experience long power cuts every day. The situation is far better in Chandigarh. Had the Mohali sub-station not gone out of order, there would have been no power cut in Chandigarh today.”

However, Kumar did not rule out more power-cuts — both scheduled and unscheduled — in the coming days, if monsoon continues to evade the northern region.

“We have made adequate arrangements for the days ahead, but nothing can be ruled out. Still, if there is a need, power cuts would be introduced in industrial and commercial sectors first, followed by the domestic sector,” Kumar said.

The Bhakra Beas Management Board has already reduced Chandigarh’s power supply by 18 megawatts (MW). However, the Administration has started trying to make up for the reduced supply. Officials said the Administration has asked the Jammu and Kashmir government to give 25 MW if the need arises.

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