Torrid Tuesday: Blackout in 19 states, 600 million Indians affected

More than half of India was powerless for a large part of Tuesday. 19 states and more than 600 million Indians were without electricity after three major grids that supply electricity tripped in quick succession. The power minister said the crisis was caused by some states that exceeded their quota, placing the Northern Grid under considerable strain. The Eastern Grid tripped next, and then the North-Eastern Grid, making this India's largest power crisis.

Jul 31, 2012 18:51 IST
  • Traffic crawls in Connaught Place in New Delhi. The traffic flow worsened in the afternoon after signals stopped functioning following a failure in the Northern Power Grid.
    Traffic crawls in Connaught Place in New Delhi. The traffic flow worsened in the afternoon after signals stopped functioning following a failure in the Northern Power Grid.
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  • Commuters wait near the closed gate of a Delhi metro station during the power outage.
    Commuters wait near the closed gate of a Delhi metro station during the power outage.
  • Passengers wait for a train at the New Delhi railway station during the power outage.
    Passengers wait for a train at the New Delhi railway station during the power outage.
  • An Indian chemist holds a candle as he searches medicine at his shop during a power cut in Siliguri.
    An Indian chemist holds a candle as he searches medicine at his shop during a power cut in Siliguri.
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  • People walk past an electric generator at a market in New Delhi.
    People walk past an electric generator at a market in New Delhi.
  • A handwritten notice about the power failure is pasted outside a metro station in New Delhi.
    A handwritten notice about the power failure is pasted outside a metro station in New Delhi.
  • Commuters wait for buses outside a metro station after Delhi Metro rail services were disrupted following the power outage.
    Commuters wait for buses outside a metro station after Delhi Metro rail services were disrupted following the power outage.
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  • An Indian shopkeeper fixes an electric generator at his shop in New Delhi.
    An Indian shopkeeper fixes an electric generator at his shop in New Delhi.
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