Ramzan, the Islamic holy month marked by dawn-to-dusk fast, was never easy, but it has been particularly hard this time in Kashmir with people mostly beginning and breaking their fast in the dark.
With the fasting period beginning on March 11, chronic power outages that last 10 to 16 hours make cooking, washing and showering before prayers difficult.
Gruelling, unscheduled power outages are not new to Kashmir but the situation, residents say, usually improves after mid-winter and is almost restored by March-end. The unprecedented rise in power cuts this year during Ramzan have overwhelmed the residents with no explanation provided by the authorities overseeing the generation and distribution of electricity in Kashmir valley. “Power outages continue unabated throughout Jammu & Kashmir. One would think that the PDD [Power Development Department] would make more efforts to ensure adequate power supply during Ramzan,” Iltija Mufti, daughter of former J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, said.
