More than seven decades after Independence, a remote hamlet in the hills of Himachal Pradesh continues to live in complete darkness, underlining the stark development gap that still haunts some of the country’s
most scenic regions. The village of Tilang, located in Bhjotra panchayat of Chamba district, has never seen a single electric bulb glow.
The irony is difficult to miss. Chamba is the very district where India’s first hydroelectric project was established over a century ago, yet Tilang’s 7-8 families remain cut off from electricity even today. Surrounded by towering mountains, lush greenery and postcard-perfect views, the village could easily pass for a tourist destination. Instead, the absence of basic infrastructure has turned everyday life into a struggle.
For something as routine as charging a mobile phone, residents have to walk nearly two hours to a neighbouring village. Children’s education suffers due to the lack of light after sunset, while daily household chores become exhausting once darkness falls. Over time, the situation has forced several families to migrate elsewhere in search of a better life.
A team from News18 reached Tilang on foot, navigating difficult terrain to assess the ground reality. Villagers said that during weddings or social functions, they are compelled to arrange generators, which are both expensive and extremely hard to transport along the narrow, broken paths leading to the village. Medical emergencies are even more alarming. In the absence of road connectivity, it often takes eight to ten people to physically carry a patient to the nearest point accessible by an ambulance.
While the government has ensured water supply to the village, electricity, a basic necessity in modern life, remains out of reach. What has added to the residents’ frustration is the fact that an electrified village lies barely 200 to 300 metres away, yet Tilang continues to remain off the grid. Locals say they have repeatedly approached their elected representatives over the years, but their appeals have yielded no results.
Many believe that if electricity and proper roads are provided, Tilang could emerge as a small tourism hub, generating employment opportunities for local youth. A young resident said his simple dream is to have a television and other basic modern amenities at home. At present, he walks nearly two kilometres and spends hours just to charge his phone, and often keeps it switched off to conserve battery. “The world is looking for life on Mars,” he remarked bitterly, “and our village is still waiting for light.”
The situation appears even more jarring when viewed against Chamba’s history. Electricity first arrived here in 1908, when Raja Bhuri Singh set up a 450-kilowatt powerhouse near Balu. That project was India’s first and Asia’s second hydroelectric power station. At a time when even major cities lacked electricity, large parts of Chamba were illuminated.
