MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Citizens blocked the bypass road in Muzaffarabad in a protest against the consecutive two-day electricity loadshedding in the Tariqabad area of Azad Kashmir’s capital city.
The residents called the extended electricity outage a “criminal negligence” of the Electricity Department.
With power supply suspended for 48 hours, frustrated citizens took to the streets, burned tires, and completely shut down the main route, causing long traffic jams and heightened tension in the area.
Residents said that more than 300 household connections have been linked to a single undersized transformer for years, despite repeated complaints. The overloaded system results in frequent transformer failures, leaving the entire locality without electricity for several days each time.
“We have pleaded with the department again and again, but no new transformer has been provided. Even the old system is not repaired properly,” the protesters said. “Children, women, patients—everyone is suffering. Businesses are crippled, water supply is disrupted, and daily life has become unbearable.”
Locals added that the transformer breakdowns are followed by days of staff absence, further compounding their struggles. An elderly protester remarked, “This is not just mismanagement—it is a violation of basic human rights. When will the government finally awaken?”
The demonstrators demanded immediate restoration of electricity, installation of a new transformer of suitable capacity, and strict action against responsible officials. They warned that if the situation is not resolved promptly, the protests will intensify and the road closure will continue indefinitely.
