Capital Srinagar and other cities have been witnessing power cuts, sometimes as long as 10 hours
The people of Kashmir, who are still grappling with the devastating effects of the flood in September, now have a new problem to contend with.
Capital Srinagar and other cities have been witnessing power cuts, sometimes as long as 10 hours, every day leaving them bitterly cold in sub-zero temperatures.
"There is no government that's why there is nobody to solve our problems. There is no electricity, we have a lot of financial difficulties, our house got damaged in the floods," says Asma, a student of the Kashmir University.
Her family of four moved into a rented flat last December after spending three months in a shed. They thought they their ordeal was finally coming to an end but it's becoming hard for them to survive the harsh winter without electricity.
"The demand for power is more than the supply, so we have to resort to some curtailment. If I compare this year to last year, the supply has increased by 10 to 12 percent, and over and above we have procured 100 megawatts of power over and above this year to give succor to people," Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir Rohit Kansal said.
Government figures, however, show that out of the total requirement of 1500 megawatts, the Valley is getting only 1100 megawatts of power.
People in Kashmir feel that political parties have failed to honour the promise of improving the power situation and the delay in the government formation is only increasing their resentment.