Cat triggers 20-hour blackout in east Delhi

On Friday midnight, areas like Mayur Vihar phase III, New Ashok Nagar, Dallupura, Vasundhara Enclave, Kondli and Pandav Nagar suffered a blackout. More than 20 hours later, the situation had not improved much.

A cat wrecked the weekend for residents of east Delhi.

HT Image

On Friday midnight, areas like Mayur Vihar phase III, New Ashok Nagar, Dallupura, Vasundhara Enclave, Kondli and Pandav Nagar suffered a blackout. More than 20 hours later, the situation had not improved much.

When power distribution company BSES Yamuna Power Limited looked into the problem, it turned out that a cat had taken refuge in a panel of a grid in Kondli, possibly to escape Friday's short spell of rain.

Result: Cat electrocuted, short circuit triggered, fire breaks out burning other panels and affecting power supply.

While the cat's fate was predestined, the suffering of the people could have been averted had BSES kept an alternate feed ready.

Said a senior power department official, "Instead, people suffered because of the discom's carelessness."