Byrnihat: Some areas of Ri Bhoi district in Meghalaya faced an unexpected power outage on Christmas evening, plunging the area into darkness for an hour.
This marked the first time in years that the district experienced a power disruption on one of the most significant evenings of the year, dampening the festive spirit for many residents.
Frustrated residents attempted to contact Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) officials for answers, but their calls initially went unanswered.
After persistent efforts, they were informed that a short circuit was responsible for the outage.
The blackout added to the mounting tension in Byrnihat, where residents were already uneasy due to threats of road blockades by Hindu religious groups over the Mawjymbuin issue.
The timing of the outage was particularly unfortunate, as Meghalaya’s Power Minister A T Mondal had recently assured citizens that there would be no power shortages during the festive season.
The incident has raised concerns over the reliability of power infrastructure in the state.
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In rural Meghalaya, the issue of electrification remains a challenge.
The state government has identified over 50,500 unelectrified households across various villages, with plans underway to address the situation.
“From the unelectrified villages, we have mapped around 50,500 households. Our target is to provide them with electricity connections as soon as possible,” Mondal stated earlier.
The Christmas blackout has underscored the need for robust measures to prevent such disruptions, especially during important occasions, and has renewed calls for improved power supply systems across the state.
