BAREILLY: After enduring 25 days of darkness during the harsh winter, residents of Soraha village in Budaun district finally breathed a sigh of relief as a new transformer was installed on Wednesday night. The power outage had left the 5,000-strong community without electricity since their original transformer was stolen on December 14.
The replacement came just a day after The Times of India highlighted the villagers’ plight. Junior Engineer Ashok Kumar informed TOI that the new 250 kVA transformer was fast-tracked for approval, and lineman Naresh Pal, along with his team, completed the installation late Wednesday night.
The theft of the transformer had severely disrupted daily life in the village. Villagers found its stripped remains hidden under straw in nearby fields and lodged a complaint with the Ughaiti police station. However, the delay in providing a replacement left the community frustrated.
Impact of the Blackout
The prolonged power outage was particularly challenging for students preparing for board exams and farmers relying on electricity for irrigation. “The entire village is relieved now,” said Vijendra Pal Singh, a resident. “Children can study properly, and farmers can irrigate their fields without spending extra money on generators.”
The lack of electricity also heightened security concerns. Sobran Singh, another villager, explained, “We couldn’t leave for other villages or stay with relatives in the city, fearing thefts. If they can steal a transformer, breaking into our homes would be easy.”
With power restored, normalcy is slowly returning to the village as residents attempt to recover from the hardships of the past month.
