Bangalore: For all those who think that the IT capital would be somewhat cushioned from power crisis, here's a reality check.
Every summer, power and water are the two casualties Indian cities face. And Bangalore is no different. As temperatures soar in most parts of India, Bangalore sweats it out as it faces unprecedented power cuts.
Of all the things that get spoilt when there is no electricity, Anita Gracious would worry most about the ice cream in her fridge. But Bangalore's long power cuts have brought out the innovator in her.
"We are a family of ice-cream lovers, so I put water in the degchi (vessel), lots of degchis in the freezer, and when the power goes, the ice cream in them. So, that way, they don't melt and my fridge stays cool," says Anita.
The city though has lost its cool, load-shedding, Chief Minister Yeddyurappa had announced, would be limited to two hours a day in Bangalore.
The reality however, would make you sweat. The city faces almost six hours of power cuts, with no fixed time.
The reason is that two of the five units of the State's main power supplier, Raichur Thermal Power Station are not functioning.
As a result, there is a shortfall of 600 MW of power.
K Jairaj, Chairman of the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) says, "Whenever there are interruptions due to the sudden stoppage of power in Raichur, the dispatch unit has no go but to halt power transmission. But I think we have done well. Bangalore has not faced the rigours of power shutdown."
Not all Bangaloreans would agree with him.
Shobha Guido, homemaker, says, "We are getting cooked here. Steamed, sometimes roasted. We can't sleep at night, we can't do anything because you never know when power goes or comes. When we came in 1964, Bangalore was heaven. Now it is pure hell."
The month of May has brought double-trouble: A hotter city and lesser power when you need it all the more. For a city that didn't even need a ceiling fan some decades ago, this summer has been the harshest.