Residents block roads as power strike leaves large parts of Gurugram in the dark

The strike began at 10pm on Wednesday against the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (HERC) decision to grant a private company a 25-year licence.

Residents blocked roads and protested across Gurugram on Thursday night after prolonged power outages disrupted water supply to thousands of households as a three-day statewide strike by power utility employees stalled repairs.

Around 150 to 200 residents blocked the main road near Daulatabad flyover, disrupting traffic. (HT Photo)

Around 150 to 200 residents blocked the main road near Daulatabad flyover. Senior police officers arrived with reinforcements and appealed to protesters to clear the road. Police contacted Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) officials, who restored supply, defusing tensions.

Power workers' strike causes outage

At least 250 residents of Ashok Vihar Phase 3 protested after outages exceeding 20 hours. In Faridabad, residents blocked a road near Lakhani Dharamshala in NIT-2 over outages and unavailable repair teams.

The strike began at 10pm on Wednesday against the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (HERC) decision to grant a private company a 25-year parallel distribution licence in Gurugram and Nuh.

Four unions representing officers and regular and contractual employees called the strike: Haryana Power Engineers Association, All Haryana Power Corporation Workers Union, Haryana Electricity Board Workers Union and Haryana Power Corporation SC-ST and BC Workers Union. They said the decision threatened profit-making public utilities’ viability and employees’ job security.

Haryana energy minister Anil Vij urged employees to resume work and engage with the government. “A strike would have been justified if we did not intend to file an appeal before the appellate tribunal. It will be filed within five to six days,” Vij said.

Residents alleged that calls to DHBVN officials, junior engineers and linemen went unanswered, employees refused repairs and phones were switched off. Disruptions were also reported in Faridabad, Nuh, Palwal, Rewari, Jhajjar and Rohtak, where several discom offices remained locked or deserted.

Gurugram’s sectors 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, areas along the Dwarka Expressway and parts of DLF phases 1, 2 and 3 reported prolonged outages. Private electricians repaired some localised faults after delays, while several societies relied on diesel generators.

Water and electricity woes

Tilak Adlakha, president of the sectors 3, 5 and 6 RWA, said a fault in the high-tension feeder from Palam Vihar substation left the sectors without power for over 20 hours since Wednesday night.

“There is no one available to carry out repairs. Officials are not responding to calls. Families have no water. Those working from home are suffering as there is neither Wi-Fi nor backup power for laptops,” he said.

Sumit Pradhan, president of Hari Nagar society’s RWA in Sector 10A, alleged that Kadipur subdivision employees disconnected supply before locking their office on Wednesday night.

“At least 10,000 people live here. Families have no water, and women and children are suffering. All employees have switched off their phones. We have been left helpless,” he said.

In Garhi Harsaru near Sector 99, resident Angad Kumar said outages exceeded 24 hours, affecting nearly 50,000 people in the area and adjoining localities. Supply failed around 6pm on Wednesday, before the strike, but staff subsequently refused repairs, he alleged. Water supply was disrupted and backup power exhausted, he said.

Ravinder Ghanghas, general secretary of the Haryana Power Engineers Association, claimed participation by 94% of DHBVN employees, 90% of Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam employees, 96% of Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Limited employees and 29% of Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited employees.

He also claimed Haryana’s average evening peak load fell by 45% on Thursday. “No progress has been made in talks with the government. The three-day strike will continue as planned until Saturday night,” he said.

DHBVN officials did not respond to calls seeking comment on outages and allegations against employees.