Siraha, August 23
Residents of Dashai Mahajan Tole in Purano Choharwa, Golbazar Municipality-10, have been struggling due to frequent and prolonged power outages.
With electricity out since early morning, residents have been relying on a generator operated by local resident Kamlesh Rai to fetch drinking water. A crowd gathered at Rai’s home after he started the generator in the morning, with residents carrying buckets, pots and water bottles to collect water.
Locals say repeated power cuts and unpredictable electricity supply have disrupted their daily lives.
Sanjay Rai said the electricity frequently goes off even at night, making it difficult for residents to sleep during the summer heat.
“It becomes impossible to sleep at night. We have to come outside and sit because of the heat. Children have to go to school in the morning, but there is no electricity when they wake up,” he said. “How are we supposed to wash our faces and prepare breakfast? We don’t know when the electricity will come or go.”
Another local resident, Bharosi Mandal, expressed frustration over the unreliable service.
“We have no idea about the electricity schedule. We don’t know when it comes or when it goes. We are the ones suffering,” he said.
Mandal urged officials at the electricity office to understand the problems faced by residents.
“When there is no electricity, people struggle like fish out of water, while officials sit comfortably in air-conditioned offices,” he alleged.
Ram Babu Rai said residents are penalised if they are even a day late in paying their electricity bills, while authorities and elected representatives have shown little concern about the poor service.
“During elections, we are promised electricity, water and solutions to people’s problems. But when people actually face problems, neither the government nor elected representatives seem to care,” he said.
He urged the government to focus on providing basic services that are reliable and regular rather than imposing additional financial burdens on citizens.
Meanwhile, the Golbazar Electricity Office said maintenance work, including cutting trees and relocating electricity poles around Choharwa, has been underway since Saturday. According to the office, the work has resulted in repeated power interruptions.
The office also said load management has contributed to the irregular electricity supply.
The disruptions have affected not only residents of Choharwa but also people in several other areas of Siraha, including Golbazar, Dhangadhimai, Lahan, Karjanha, Mirchaiya and Bishnupur.
Residents have urged the concerned electricity authorities and elected representatives to ensure a regular power supply and find a long-term solution to the repeated outages.
