Parts of Patiala jail without power for 48 hours

For over the past 48 hours, staff at the Patiala Central Jail has been forced to keep vigil on inmates using torches after the main power transformer developed a fault on Saturday.

For over the past 48 hours, staff at the Patiala Central Jail has been forced to keep vigil on inmates using torches after the main power transformer developed a fault on Saturday.

Several barracks in the jail that houses over 2,000 inmates including the convict on death row Balwant Singh Rajoana, have not seen electricity for two days.

With this being the winter season, the impact of the cut has been cushioned to an extent, but there have been reports of water shortage in the jail with motors non-functional.

When contacted, jail superintendent Bhupinder Singh Virk claimed that only two-three barracks were without power.

“The supply has been restored after the load of the defunct transformer was shifted to the adjacent transformer. The damaged transformer will also be replaced by Tuesday. There is no water shortage.”

Deputy commissioner Varun Roojam said he had directed local officials of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) to restore electricity supply as soon as possible.