Storm left Mohali powerless for hours
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Mohali: A powerful thunderstorm that swept across the region a day before has left residents of Zirakpur, Mohali, Banur, and Kharar reeling from prolonged power outages, some lasting up to 22 hours.
Strong winds toppled trees and electricity poles, damaging critical infrastructure and plunging several areas into darkness.
In Zirakpur alone, around 25 electricity poles were reported to have collapsed, while Mohali saw 19 poles brought down. The resulting damage to overhead cables disrupted supply across residential and commercial areas, compounding the misery during soaring summer temperatures.
Residents of Lohgarh in Zirakpur bore the brunt of the storm's impact, enduring a 23-hour blackout after a tree, weakened by nearby construction work, fell on power lines near Sarv Mangal Society.
"We had no power all night. Despite calling officials, no one responded. Our inverters failed and the heat was unbearable," said a resident.
The situation was no better in other parts of Mohali, including Sectors 76 to 80, 3B1, TDI City, and Phase 7, where power supply remained disrupted well into the following day. In Kharar, executive engineer Inderpreet Singh revealed that due to an ongoing employee strike, only five out of 40 staff were available to manage emergency repairs.
"Our skeleton crew worked overnight to restore power, but the task was overwhelming," he admitted.
Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) deputy chief engineer Mohit Singh Sood acknowledged the scale of the challenge: "The strike left our teams overwhelmed. The limited number of available employees faced a herculean task trying to address complaints across the region."
The prolonged blackout has sparked public outrage.
Residents criticized Powercom for failing to provide timely updates and for not issuing prior warnings about scheduled outages. Many questioned the government's assurances about uninterrupted power supply.
With restoration still ongoing in parts of the region, citizens are demanding an immediate overhaul of PSPCL's response system, proper staffing, and the modernization of infrastructure to prevent future breakdowns.
Powercom has yet to release a comprehensive statement addressing the crisis.
Mohali deputy mayor Kuljit Singh Bedi openly criticized the state government's handling of the power crisis. "You offer 300 free units of electricity, but what good is it when there's no electricity in the first place?" he asked. He pointed to critical staffing shortages, outdated infrastructure, and a lack of safety equipment for temporary workers.
"In 40-degree heat, patients relying on oxygen concentrators and other medical devices are suffering.
This is a life-threatening issue," Bedi said.
He further alleged that despite talk of recruiting 3,000 PSPCL staff, no linemen are being hired specifically for Mohali, leaving the city vulnerable during crises. "Temporary workers risk their lives for Rs 10–12,000 per month — and even that without safety gear. It's a recipe for disaster," he added.
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Worst-hit areas
Lohgarh in Zirakpur reported 23-hour blackout after a tree, weakened by nearby construction work, fell on power lines.
The situation was no better in other parts of Mohali, including Sectors 76 to 80, 3B1, TDI City, and Phase 7, where power supply remained disrupted well into the following day.
In Kharar, only five out of 40 staff were available to manage emergency repairs due to an ongoing employee strike.
"Our skeleton crew worked overnight to restore power, but the task was overwhelming," executive engineer Inderpreet Singh admitted.
Poles collapse
In Zirakpur alone, around 25 electricity poles were reported to have collapsed, while Mohali saw 19 poles suffering extensive damage
Water supply affected
Deputy mayor Kuljit Singh Bedi said due to heavy power cuts, there is a severe impact on water supply as well. Sectors 117, 118, 74A, Phase 3B2 and several other major areas of Mohali are facing a serious water crisis because water boosters have stopped functioning due to power failure. He mentioned that some of these areas fall under the municipal corporation.
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