Ludhiana Reels: Over 18,000 Complaints as Storm Unleashes 20-Hour Power Blackouts

A ferocious storm ripped through Ludhiana on Thursday night, leaving a trail of destruction and plunging vast swathes of the city into a prolonged and frustrating blackout. Residents woke up on Friday not to the hum of electricity, but to an unsettling silence, as power lines lay crippled and daily life ground to a halt.

The scale of the disruption is staggering, with the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) logging over 18,000 complaints, painting a vivid picture of the widespread agony endured by the city's populace.

For many, particularly in affluent areas like Model Town, Civil Lines, Urban Estate Dugri, and Sarabha Nagar, the darkness stretched for an excruciating 20 hours or even more.

Other regions weren't spared, facing extended outages of 8 to 10 hours, turning what should have been a normal Friday into a test of endurance. The immediate aftermath saw residents grappling with basic necessities, as refrigerators failed, water pumps lay dormant, and the city's vibrant rhythm faltered.

The root cause of this unprecedented disruption was a relentless combination of heavy rain, fierce winds, and powerful lightning.

This tempestuous weather wreaked havoc on Ludhiana's power infrastructure, toppling numerous trees onto vital electricity poles and snapping power lines with alarming ease. One critical incident involved a massive tree crashing onto 66 KV lines near Bhai Bala Chowk, severing a crucial artery in the power supply network and exacerbating the crisis.

PSPCL officials, while acknowledging the immense challenge, confirmed the severe damage.

"Multiple power lines and poles were damaged due to falling trees and strong winds," stated a PSPCL official, highlighting the sheer volume of repairs required across the city. Teams were reportedly working tirelessly, battling against the clock and the extensive damage to restore normalcy. However, the sheer scale of the repairs meant that resolution was a painstakingly slow process.

The impact wasn't limited to homes; Ludhiana's bustling commercial and industrial sectors also bore the brunt.

Businesses in industrial hubs like Focal Point faced significant losses due to the lack of power, bringing production to a standstill. Shops struggled to operate, and the overall economic activity of the city took a major hit. The widespread power cuts sparked immense frustration among residents, many of whom voiced their anger over the prolonged outages and the struggle to get updates or estimated restoration times.

The storm may have passed, but its lingering shadow of darkness and disruption continued to challenge the resilience of Ludhiana's citizens.