Intense heat, frequent power cuts & seething Nagpurians

Nagpur: With the city reeling under 44°C temperatures over the past few days, frequent short-term power cuts have left residents frustrated and struggling in the intense heat. Many citizens allege that these outages amount to "unannounced load-shedding", as disruptions occur multiple times a day without prior notice.As complaints rise, so has the tendency among consumers to directly call local electricity staffers and wiremen in a bid to get quick restoration. However, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) has appealed to citizens to refrain from making such direct calls, citing safety concerns and operational efficiency."Citizens should register official complaints after 10 minutes of power cut. As the official complaints are analysed and if frequent power cuts are being reported, then necessary steps could be taken. It is better to register an official complaint rather than calling MSEDCL staffers," said a senior MSEDCL official.According to the power utility, workers engaged in repair and maintenance tasks need complete concentration while handling electrical infrastructure. Interruptions caused by phone calls can distract them and potentially lead to serious accidents on the job. Officials stressed that ensuring worker safety is a priority, and following proper complaint channels also helps in systematic redressal.Despite the advisory, citizens say the ground reality remains challenging. "It is really frustrating that power cuts are happening multiple times a day. Even though they are of short duration, even a five-minute outage in this heat is unbearable. This feels like unannounced load-shedding," said Mayuresh Kale, a resident of Besa-Pipla. He added that at times even registering complaints does not yield timely results, further aggravating the situation.The spike in outages comes amid a sharp rise in electricity demand. Recently, TOI reported that the city's power consumption has already touched around 780MW — nearly a month earlier than last year's peak levels. This sudden surge in load has put additional strain on the distribution network.Sources within MSEDCL admitted that the increased demand is leading to technical issues on the ground. "Due to increased load, many cables are getting damaged and other technical issues are being faced. So, short-term power cuts are happening while shifting load and resolving issues," a source said.MSEDCL suggested consumers should use official platforms such as toll-free numbers, mobile applications and digital services to lodge complaints. These systems allow the utility to track outage patterns, deploy resources efficiently and address recurring faults in a structured manner.
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