Power-cut for 14hrs a day disrupts normal life at Chatmohar

 
CHATMOHAR, PABNA, Aug 14: Electricity consumers under Pabna Rural Electricity Association-1 in Chatmohar have been enduring severe load-shedding for nearly a month, with outages allegedly lasting up to 12-14 hours a day. 

The prolonged power cuts, coupled with the intense heat of the Bengali month of Shravan, have made life particularly difficult for children and elderly people. Poultry and livestock farmers are also worried about losses amid the heat.

Consumers in the rural areas are facing the worst situation, with power cuts occurring in the morning, afternoon, evening and at night.

Despite the presence of offices, courts, a police station and a hospital, load-shedding has also increased significantly in Chatmohar municipality.

Officials said areas within the municipality are supplied through separate feeders because they contain important facilities such as the hospital, banks and government offices. Even these areas are experiencing around 12 hours of load-shedding a day.

According to sources, around 396,000 consumers in five upazilas under Pabna Rural Electricity Association-1 have been experiencing load-shedding for the past several weeks.

The prolonged outages are causing serious problems for sick elderly people and children at home. Many people are reportedly falling ill due to the intense heat, with incidents resembling heatstroke also being reported.

Power-dependent healthcare facilities, factories and government and private offices are also facing disruptions.

Poultry trader Saiful Islam said the combination of extreme heat and prolonged power cuts was causing severe losses.

“Many chickens are dying from heatstroke in farms. Egg production is also being affected. Load-shedding is taking place unpredictably in the morning, afternoon and at night,” he said.

Moylal Hossain, an electronic mechanic in Chatmohar municipality, said the power crisis had badly affected his business.

“People are struggling in the heat. When there is no electricity, we cannot work at the shop. I still have to pay two or three workers every day, but there is hardly any work,” he said.

Dr Humayun Kabir, resident medical officer at Chatmohar Upazila Health Complex, said the number of patients suffering from diarrhoea and dysentery had increased amid the heat and load-shedding.

He advised people to drink plenty of cool water and avoid going outside unless necessary.

Md Abdullah Al Amin Chowdhury, General Manager of Pabna Rural Electricity Association-1, said load-shedding had increased in recent days due to a shortage in electricity supply.

“It is not only our rural electricity office that is imposing load-shedding. The problem is being faced across the country. Our daily electricity demand is 79MW, but we are receiving only 56MW. We are therefore forced to impose around 30 percent load-shedding,” he said.

He said the association was publishing information on its website about the duration of load-shedding in different areas to reduce consumer dissatisfaction.

“A high-level meeting has already been held. We hope the problem will be resolved soon,” he added.