Several parts of North, Central and Southern India faced significant power and water supply disruptions on February 4, as maintenance work, technical faults and infrastructure upgrades led to planned and unplanned outages. From metropolitan cities to rural pockets, residents reported inconvenience, water shortages and disruptions to essential services.
Authorities across states issued advisories asking residents to store water and plan daily activities accordingly, while repair teams worked to restore normal supply.
Uttar Pradesh: 72-Hour Power Outage Leaves Villages Struggling
In Uttar Pradesh, residents of Kushinagar district bore the brunt of a prolonged power outage. Electricity supply from the Fazilnagar substation remained disrupted for nearly 72 hours, affecting more than 2,000 villagers.
With power unavailable, water pumps stopped functioning, leading to empty overhead tanks. Mobile phone charging, household chores and agricultural activities were severely impacted. Officials stated that the fault had been rectified and power restoration was underway, though residents expressed frustration over delays.
Madhya Pradesh: Planned Shutdown in Over 59 Areas of Bhopal
In Bhopal, the power distribution company carried out a planned six-hour shutdown across more than 59 localities for maintenance and network upgrades. Electricity supply was suspended between 10 am and 4 pm in multiple residential and commercial zones.
Officials said the shutdown was necessary for feeder bifurcation, conductor stringing and construction of additional bays at 33/11 kV substations, aimed at improving long-term power reliability.
Delhi-NCR: Water and Power Cuts Add to Residents’ Woes
In Delhi, water supply was disrupted in several areas due to maintenance work at the Sonia Vihar water treatment plant. Neighbourhoods in northeast and east Delhi experienced low pressure or complete water cuts for up to eight hours.
Simultaneously, electricity outages were reported in parts of Rohini, where residents faced multiple short-duration power cuts throughout the day. Authorities advised residents to store water and rely on tanker services if required.
Bengaluru and Other Cities Face Extended Power Outages
In Bengaluru, scheduled power cuts ranging from five to eight hours affected several areas due to maintenance at 66/11 kV substations and line upgrades. In some localities, outages extended late into the night.
Meanwhile, parts of Rajasthan, including Ajmer and Kota, witnessed long power cuts affecting residential colonies and industrial areas, further highlighting the scale of disruptions across states.
Residents Demand Better Coordination and Advance Communication
Across cities, residents voiced concerns over repeated outages and inadequate advance communication. Many argued that while maintenance is essential, better scheduling and timely alerts could reduce inconvenience, especially for senior citizens, students and working professionals.
Officials maintained that the shutdowns were essential to prevent future breakdowns, particularly ahead of rising summer demand.
A Reminder of Infrastructure Stress
The widespread disruptions on February 4 underscore the growing pressure on India’s urban power and water infrastructure. As cities expand and consumption rises, experts stress the need for modernisation, redundancy planning and transparent communication to prevent such simultaneous crises from becoming routine.
