Remote Ladakh Hamlet Gets Electricity For First Time Since Independence

Sandwiched between two major high altitude passes of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Photoksar village in Leh district got electricity for the first time, triggering lifetime joy and happiness among its residents.

As cities across the country adopt the latest technological advancements, residents of this hamlet are celebrating the advent of electricity for the first time since Independence.

Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh Tashi Gyalson inaugurated the NHPC powergrid line for Photoksar village on Sunday, Power Development department (PDD) officials said.

A village resident, whose joy knew no bounds, said the electricity supply will help his children do well in their studies.

"We are very happy now that we finally have electricity in our village. Now our children can study well and progress in life," he said.

Tashi Gyalson said it is because of the visionary initiatives of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who launched the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana, and the energetic efforts of Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal that after 70 years of darkness, a village like Photoksar got electrified.

"We thank PM Modi and our MP for electrifying this remot village. I feel very lucky to inaugurate this power line within one month of becoming the councillor of the area and later CEC," he said.

He also assured to electrify five more hamlets - Yulchung, Nyraks, Skyumpata, Lingshed and Dipling - in the coming years.

Talking about the upcoming telecommunication facilities in Singhey-Lakok area after 70 years, Tashi Gyalson said work on installation of Jio towers at Photoksar is underway and soon Yulchung and Lingshed will also see such development. He also promised to install more mobile towers in remaining villages of the area in the future.

Regarding electrification of remote villages of Leh district, CEC hoped that all other villages of Nubra, Changthang and Sham will be connected with Northern Grid in the shortest possible time.