Godhra residents reel under prolonged power cuts after substation fire

Vadodara: Thousands of residents in Godhra have been enduring prolonged power outages amid the scorching summer heat following a fire at the town’s main power substation, disrupting electricity supply to more than 95,000 consumers.

The outages have severely affected daily life across eastern and western parts of the town, with residents complaining of frequent and lengthy power cuts over the past several days. Frustration over the situation recently spilled onto the streets, with locals staging protests against the erratic power supply.

The disruption began after a fire broke out at a GETCO substation, damaging several electrical panels and affecting power distribution across the town. While replacement panels have since been installed, officials said the problem extends beyond the fire incident.

“Godhra currently has two substations, but the town now requires at least two more due to the sharp increase in electricity demand over the past few years. Approval for two new substations has already been granted,” an official of the Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (MGVCL) told TOI.

Residents say the power cuts have become a daily ordeal, particularly as temperatures remain high. Many areas have reportedly been experiencing outages lasting several hours every day.

“The power supply has been extremely erratic. It not only disrupts our daily routine but also affects business operations,” said Manish Parikh, a hotel owner in Godhra. “I am forced to spend thousands of rupees on generator fuel to ensure uninterrupted power supply.”

Parikh said he has repeatedly raised the issue with authorities, while several other residents echoed similar concerns, demanding a permanent solution to the recurring outages.