Sonai Residents Light Up The Night: Torch-Wielding Protest Against Electricity Neglect

On May 01, as the world marked Labour Day, residents of the Sonai area took to the streets holding torches in protest against the alleged negligence of the electricity department. The department, they claimed, had failed to address their ongoing electricity crisis. Following the recent thundershower of Kaal Baishakhi, various regions of the Barak Valley were severely affected, resulting in power outages. However, reports indicate that the Sonai Dhonhari area has been experiencing such issues for several days.

Residents of Sonai Dhonhari area in Cachar district gathered in a massive protest rally on Wednesday due to the prolonged electricity crisis. The area has been grappling with power outages, leaving locals frustrated and inconvenienced for days. A significant number of residents participated in the protest rally, holding torches as a symbol of their discontent.

Protesters expressed their grievances to the media, stating that despite discussions with officials from the Sonai electricity department, no concrete steps have been taken to address the issue of faulty power lines and the lack of maintenance.

The protest was led by Former Sonabarighat GP, President’s Representative, Samsul Islam Barbhuiya, who stated that they have been suffering for many days and yet their plight is largely being ignored. He informed that when they reached out to APDCL, they received an excuse of not having enough manpower. He questioned why there are not enough personnel to resolve customer woes when customers regularly pay their monthly electricity bills.

Barbhuiya further stated that they would submit a memorandum to the circle officer, complaining against the Sonai Subdivision for neglecting their areas while fixing electricity issues. He also questioned why Meherpur and Silchar areas receive electricity promptly while their areas suffer.

He further informed that for about 7 days, their area has been without electricity, resulting in agitation and leading to this protest as no other means were able to garner enough attention to their woes.

According to reports, the situation worsened after the recent thunderstorms, plunging the entire Sonai Dhonhari area into darkness. Despite attempts to raise awareness and engage with the authorities, residents feel neglected as no tangible action has been taken to resolve the electricity crisis.

Frustrated with the lack of response from the concerned authorities, the local community warned of escalating their agitation if immediate measures are not taken to restore electricity services promptly.

The protest rally highlights the urgent need for the electricity department to prioritize the restoration of power supply and undertake necessary maintenance work to prevent future disruptions.