Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, May 9: Frequent electricity outages across the city and suburbs have escalated into a major civic concern, with residents reporting long and repeated power cuts amid intense heat and humidity.
On Thursday night, residents of Antop Hill were left without electricity for several hours for the second time in a week, leading to widespread discomfort and sleeplessness. Similar outages were also reported in parts of Dadar and Vile Parle West. Over the past week, multiple neighbourhoods have experienced disruptions lasting anywhere between three and 12 hours.
The affected areas fall under the supply networks of BEST, Adani Electricity, and Tata Power, with officials attributing the interruptions to issues such as cable faults and transformer tripping. However, for residents, these technical explanations have done little to ease the hardship caused by stalled lifts, non-functional water pumps, and drained mobile devices during peak summer conditions.
The situation comes at a time when Mumbai’s electricity demand has recently crossed 4,300 MW, placing additional pressure on the city’s power distribution infrastructure. Experts suggest that the rising load is straining an already overburdened system.
Public frustration has also grown due to delays in restoration and poor communication from utility providers. Many consumers, especially in areas served by BEST, have complained that helplines are often unreachable during outages, leaving residents without timely updates or support.
In response to mounting criticism, BEST has announced a monsoon preparedness plan that includes setting up a dedicated call centre and deploying temporary staff to address faults more quickly. Officials have also acknowledged a shortage of manpower in the electricity supply division, attributed to years of retirements and limited recruitment.
Recent outages have been reported in several high-density areas, including Worli, Sion, Marine Drive, and Marine Lines. In Worli, some pockets experienced a blackout lasting from 1:20 am to 6:30 am, while parts of Sion faced disruptions for up to five hours.
Energy experts say the repeated breakdowns highlight deeper concerns about infrastructure resilience and service reliability in India’s financial capital, particularly during peak summer demand when electricity usage surges sharply.