AMRITSAR – Tensions boiled over in Wadala Bhitthe village as a frustrated mob of residents forcibly entered a local power substation, overthrew staff, and manually restored electricity supply following prolonged power cuts. The incident, which occurred late last night, resulted in a physical altercation between villagers and electricity department employees, leaving the facility in a state of chaos.
The Breach: “Death Threats and Intoxication”
According to eyewitnesses and staff on duty, a group of approximately 20 to 25 individuals from Wadala Bhitthe and surrounding villages converged on the substation. The crowd, reportedly enraged by the sweltering heat and persistent outages, used force to break through the main gate.
Surinder Singh, an employee on duty during the shift, detailed a harrowing account of the evening:
“The group entered simultaneously, hurling expletives and issuing death threats. Some appeared to be under the influence of intoxicants. They disregarded our explanations regarding official orders and forced their way into the control room.”
Manual Override: A Dangerous Precedent
Despite warnings from the technical staff that the power cut was mandated by higher officials to manage grid load, the residents took matters into their own hands. The mob allegedly tampered with the feeder mechanism, manually switching the power back on for their sector.
Technical experts warn that such actions are not only illegal but life-threatening. Unauthorized tampering with high-voltage feeders can lead to:
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Transformer Explosions: Overloading the grid can cause catastrophic equipment failure.
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Grid Collapse: Unmanaged surges disrupt regional power stability.
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Fatal Electrocution: Those operating the machinery without protective gear or training risk immediate death.
Staff in State of Fear; Police Launch Probe
The aftermath of the scuffle has left the Electricity Department employees feeling vulnerable. Staff unions have voiced “grave concerns” regarding their personal safety, particularly for those assigned to isolated night shifts. They have appealed to the district administration for permanent security deployments at sensitive substations.
Official Response:
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Police Action: The Kamboh police station has officially initiated an investigation.
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Charges: A formal complaint has been filed by the Electricity Department. Officials confirmed they are currently using local intelligence and potential CCTV footage to identify the 25 accused individuals.
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Legal Measures: Authorities stated that “appropriate legal measures” will be taken against those who damaged government property and obstructed public servants from performing their duties.
The Underlying Crisis
While the administration condemns the violence, the incident highlights the growing desperation in rural Punjab over power shortages. As the gap between supply and demand widens, the “Wadala Bhitthe incident” serves as a stark reminder of the volatile friction between a struggling utility sector and a public pushed to its breaking point.
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