Baharaich residents block road over 24-hour power outage, acute water crisis

Residents of Baharaich's Gulam Ali Pura locality staged a massive road blockade for several hours on Monday after suffering a prolonged power outage that left the entire neighbourhood in darkness and triggered an acute water crisis. The protest, which brought traffic to a standstill, saw local councillor Akarsh Jaiswal join the agitation despite having a fractured leg, underscoring the severity of public anger over the electricity department's failure to restore supply.

According to locals, the area had been without power for 24 hours straight, paralysing daily life and cutting off water pumps that depend on electricity. With no running water and temperatures soaring, frustrated residents took to the streets demanding immediate restoration of supply. The blackout affected hundreds of households, forcing families to cope without fans, lights, or access to drinking water.

Councillor Jaiswal, who attended the protest on crutches with his leg in a cast, accused the power distribution company of gross negligence and demanded accountability. His presence energised the demonstrators, who blocked the main road and refused to budge until authorities took notice. The jam caused significant disruption to vehicular movement in the area for hours.

Local police eventually arrived at the scene and spent considerable time negotiating with the protesters. After repeated assurances that the power supply would be restored on priority and that senior officials had been alerted, the crowd agreed to lift the blockade. However, residents warned they would resume the agitation if the electricity department failed to deliver on its promises.

The incident highlights the recurring power crisis in Uttar Pradesh's smaller towns, where infrastructure remains fragile and public grievances often spill onto the streets. Baharaich has witnessed similar protests in recent months over erratic supply and unscheduled load shedding.