The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, notwithstanding its proclaimed status as a power-surplus region owing to its vast hydroelectric endowments, continues to languish under a debilitating and perennial electricity crisis that has assumed alarming proportions in both of its capital cities, Jammu and Srinagar. With the advent of every winter and summer season, the inhabitants of these urban centres are compelled to endure an ordeal marked by chronic, prolonged, and often arbitrary power outages that disrupt the rhythm of daily life and erode public confidence in the administrative apparatus entrusted with power generation, transmission, and distribution.
The electricity consumers, who are the involuntary victims of this systemic failure, find themselves ensnared in a paradox wherein they dutifully discharge their financial obligations to the power utilities, yet remain deprived of the most basic assurance of uninterrupted electricity supply. The repeated proclamations and assurances emanating from the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation and the erstwhile Power Development Department regarding the provision of reliable and continuous power supply have, over time, been rendered hollow and inconsequential by the stark realities on the ground.
The crisis is not confined to isolated pockets or peripheral localities; rather, it has engulfed the entirety of the Union Territory, with both urban and rural areas experiencing acute power deficits. However, the predicament is particularly pronounced in Jammu and Srinagar, where electricity demand peaks during extreme climatic conditions, thereby exposing the fragility and inadequacy of the existing power infrastructure.
As of early 2026, the electricity crisis in Jammu and Kashmir has metamorphosed into a severe, chronic, and worsening phenomenon. In the Kashmir Valley, especially Srinagar, residents have been subjected to frequent and long-duration power outages, with daily curtailments extending from five to six hours under normal conditions and escalating to as much as fourteen to sixteen hours during periods of heightened demand. The situation deteriorated dramatically during January 2026, when heavy snowfall precipitated a near-total collapse of the power grid, reducing operational capacity to a negligible fraction and plunging active load levels far below the prevailing demand. This catastrophic failure underscored not only the vulnerability of the power infrastructure to climatic adversities but also the glaring absence of contingency planning and systemic resilience.

In Jammu, the scenario is scarcely better. Consumers in the city and its adjoining areas are routinely subjected to scheduled and unscheduled power cuts ranging from eight to nine hours daily, with rural and semi-urban localities bearing a disproportionate share of the burden. During the summer months, soaring temperatures exacerbate the crisis, as increased electricity consumption coincides with constrained supply, resulting in widespread disruptions to water supply systems, commercial establishments, healthcare services, and domestic life.

The cumulative impact of these outages has been nothing short of paralytic, crippling economic activity, undermining productivity, and inflicting undue hardship upon ordinary citizens. It is both ironic and distressing that this persistent electricity crisis afflicts a region endowed with an estimated hydropower potential of approximately 20,000 megawatts. Despite this immense natural advantage, Jammu and Kashmir remains heavily dependent on imported power to bridge the yawning gap between demand and supply. A significant portion of the region’s hydropower assets remains under the control of central public sector undertakings, particularly the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, thereby limiting the Union Territory’s operational autonomy and financial leverage. This structural imbalance has fuelled longstanding demands for the return or joint management of these projects, a demand that has yet to elicit a decisive and satisfactory response from the authorities.
Compounding the crisis is the obsolescence of transmission and distribution infrastructure, which is plagued by excessive technical and commercial losses. Aging equipment, inadequate maintenance, and inefficient grid management have resulted in substantial energy wastage, further constraining the availability of power to end consumers. The introduction of smart metering in Jammu and Srinagar was projected as a panacea that would rationalise consumption, curb pilferage, and enhance supply reliability. Contrary to these expectations, the power situation has continued its downward trajectory, leaving consumers disillusioned and increasingly restive. The sense of grievance among the public is intensified by the perception that power utilities have adopted an indifferent and complacent attitude towards the crisis. Despite mounting public outcry, there appears to be a conspicuous absence of urgency, coordination, and strategic intervention on the part of the concerned departments. Scheduled and unscheduled power cuts persist unabated, often coinciding with peak hours when electricity is most urgently required for heating, cooling, cooking, and essential household activities. This persistent deprivation, juxtaposed against the timely payment of hefty electricity bills by consumers, has fostered a climate of resentment and eroded the social contract between the state and its citizens.
The situation is further aggravated by infrastructural anomalies arising from the ongoing replacement of old electric poles and cables. While the outsourcing of pole erection and cable laying to private agencies has resulted in the installation of new aluminium poles and modern cabling in many areas, the failure to dismantle and remove old, dilapidated cemented poles has created serious safety hazards and public inconvenience.
These obsolete structures, often left standing alongside new installations, pose risks to life and property and reflect a lack of planning and accountability on the part of executing agencies. It is deeply regrettable that the electricity crisis continues to be treated with apparent casualness by those entrusted with governance. The absence of a comprehensive, time-bound, and transparent strategy to augment power supply during both winter and summer seasons has left the populace at the mercy of an unpredictable and unreliable system.
The continued inertia and lack of decisive action have led many citizens to question the responsiveness and efficacy of their elected representatives and administrative leadership. There is an urgent and compelling need for the government, particularly the Power Minister and senior officials at the helm of affairs, to awaken from their apparent slumber and address the electricity crisis on a war footing. Immediate measures must be undertaken to enhance power procurement, modernise infrastructure, reduce transmission and distribution losses, and ensure equitable and predictable supply to all consumers. The implementation of smart metering must be accompanied by tangible improvements in service delivery, failing which the exercise risks being perceived as a mere revenue-enhancing mechanism devoid of public benefit.
At the same time, it is incumbent upon consumers to act as responsible and socially conscious stakeholders by exercising judicious restraint in electricity usage, especially during peak hours. Public cooperation, when combined with administrative resolve, can contribute to mitigating the severity of power shortages and fostering a culture of shared responsibility. In conclusion, the prevailing electricity crisis in Jammu and Srinagar represents a profound governance challenge that demands immediate, sustained, and empathetic intervention.
The continued neglect of this vital issue risks exacerbating public discontent and undermining social stability. Before the situation deteriorates beyond repair, the government must act decisively to restore public confidence, ensure uninterrupted power supply, and uphold the fundamental rights and dignity of its citizens. The people of Jammu and Kashmir, who have endured this ordeal with remarkable patience, fervently hope that their voices will finally be heard and that meaningful, corrective action will replace the inertia that has hitherto defined the power sector in the region.

Email:-----------onkoul2019@gmail.com