J&K suffers severe power crisis

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir is reeling under a severe electricity crisis as supply has depleted to 1,000 MW against the demand for 3,000 MW, causing 5-6 hours of outage in urban pockets and longer in rural areas, much before the winter peak.

Decreasing water flow in freezing rivers has affected hydroelectric projects which generate 90% of Kashmir's electricity demands. "We produce nearly 2,500 MW, but it drops to below 1,000 MW in the winter. So we import electricity, but the ageing transmission lines fail to handle, resulting in frequent power failure.”

Mohammad Latif Khan, a resident from Srinagar’s Khanyar, complained, “We have forgotten about the free 200 units promised by CM Omar Abdullah. We are demanding just a proper power supply.”