Eid celebrations dimmed as Mumbai's Dongri locals battle recurring power cuts

Ellam Mansion in Dongri. PICS: BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Residents of Ellam Mansion building in Dongri, even as they prepare to celebrate Eid on Thursday, have expressed anger and frustration over frequent power outages that they claim have plagued the locality for nearly three years. Alleging poor management by electricity providers and a lack of response from authorities, residents say the recurring disruptions have made daily life difficult and festive celebrations miserable. Residents are demanding immediate intervention from the authorities and electricity providers.

The jumper machine on which the building is dependent for power supply

Voices

Aslam Malkani, local resident
We have sent emails, lodged complaints, and spoken to officials several times, but nobody seems interested in resolving the issue. The only response we received from the service provider was that the load has increased tremendously, and they are trying to handle the situation. The heat becomes unbearable. Elderly people suffer the most, followed by the working class. Also, the outages happen at midnight or during early hours, hampering sleep and the daily morning routine. We are paying our bills regularly, so why are we being deprived of a basic service?

Yusuf Merchant, trader
Power cuts affect our businesses and damage customer confidence. It is frustrating when outages occur repeatedly without any explanation.

Ashfaque Ahmed Anwer Ahmed, local resident
Every time there is a festival, we fear a power outage more than anything else. For the last three years, even our celebrations have been affected. Families gather for Eid, but instead of enjoying the occasion, we end up sitting in darkness. We only want a reliable power supply. Festivals should be a time of happiness, not anxiety over whether the lights will stay on.

Regular outages since 2023

According to locals, power cuts have become a regular occurrence, taking place almost every alternate day since 2023. The outages, they say, often last for hours and disrupt household activities, business operations, water supply, and the functioning of essential appliances.

2023
Year power cut issue started