Residents across several parts of Mumbai experienced extended power cuts from late Tuesday night into the early hours of Wednesday, sparking widespread frustration over both the disruption and the absence
of timely updates from the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking.
According to a report in The Times Of India, in Worli, the situation escalated significantly, with residents reporting repeated outages over the past three days. The disruption peaked early Wednesday morning when a complete blackout persisted from around 1.20 am to 6.30 am in parts of the area, including Worli village.
Frustrated by the prolonged outage, some residents stepped out onto the streets late at night, demanding immediate restoration of the power supply.
Multiple Areas Affected By Extended Cuts
Sion witnessed outages lasting up to five hours, while parts of Marine Drive and Marine Lines were also left in darkness after a power feeder malfunctioned during the night.
In Antop Hill, residents reported electricity being cut off around midnight, with supply only returning close to 5 am.
Technical Faults Behind The Disruptions
According to sources within BEST, the outage in Sion was attributed to a localised fault at a substation, a portion of which reportedly caught fire. Meanwhile, the disruption in Worli was linked to an issue involving underground cables.
BEST is responsible for supplying electricity to large portions of south and central Mumbai, making such widespread outages particularly disruptive.
Residents Criticise Lack Of Communication
Consumers expressed strong dissatisfaction over the absence of advance notice or real-time updates during the outages. Former BEST panel member Ravi Raja, who was also affected, questioned why residents were not informed despite the utility having access to customers’ contact details, including mobile numbers and email IDs.
Residents further pointed out that there was no clarity on restoration timelines, nor were there effective helpline escalation mechanisms during the crisis.
Calls For Better Consumer Communication
A resident from Antop Hill criticised the utility’s communication practices, stating that despite Mumbai’s status as an international city, basic updates on service disruptions were not shared with consumers.
Drawing comparisons with other service providers like Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL), the resident noted that timely alerts are standard practice elsewhere and urged BEST to adopt a more consumer-friendly approach.
Summer Hardships Deepen Impact
The outages caused significant discomfort, particularly given the summer conditions. Worli resident Dhanpal Solanki highlighted the difficulties faced by vulnerable groups, noting that elderly residents struggled without ventilation, children were unable to sleep, and working individuals were deprived of rest after long hours at work.
Solanki also alleged that recurring power disruptions in the area could be linked to unauthorised constructions, which he claimed were placing additional strain on local infrastructure.
