Photo : TDM
Madaripur is currently grappling with frequent power outages and scorching heatwaves, significantly disrupting normal life. The community is particularly affected at night when the repeated power cuts disturb their sleep. Sleepless nights in the intense heat have become a common occurrence for the residents whenever the electricity goes out.
During conversations with locals, they expressed their frustrations, saying, "During the night, we can't sleep peacefully. The electricity comes back after one to one and a half hours, only to go out again shortly after. This continuous cycle of power outages has been robbing us of uninterrupted sleep for the past few days, leading to physical fatigue during the day."
Moreover, power cuts are also occurring frequently throughout the day. The people lament that the absence of electricity, coupled with the sweltering heat, severely disrupts their daily routines. Iqbal, a senior citizen from the area, shared his experience, stating, "I keep waking up repeatedly at night. The electricity comes and goes within a short span of time, leaving me sleepless in the stifling heat. The entire night passes like this, making me feel unwell. It's a struggle, as we face both extreme heat and the challenges of living without electricity."
Motaleb Mia, a local school teacher, added, "The lack of electricity makes it difficult for students to concentrate in the classroom. The extreme heat makes them restless, hampering the teaching and learning process."
Investigations reveal that the working population has been severely affected by the intense heat. Numerous individuals have fallen ill, with the suffering becoming even more acute due to the absence of electricity during the summer season. Continuous power cuts, lasting up to one and a half hours, have led to an increase in overall distress. Various local mills are experiencing disruptions in production, and the markets are devoid of buyers.
The sale of charger fans and IPS units has witnessed a surge in response to the power outages. Additionally, the demand for solar power panels has also risen. However, buyers have noted that the price of charger fans remains high. In response to these concerns, sellers have explained, "The wholesale market prices of fans are already high. Recently, there has been an increased demand for charger fans of various sizes, including the batteries that accompany them."
Sources from the district rural electricity office have revealed that the diminished production is unable to meet the growing demand, resulting in the necessity for frequent load shedding. Md. Manjurul Alam, the Deputy General Manager of the Shibchar Upazila in the Rural Electricity District, acknowledged the situation, stating, "In Shibchar, we are receiving only 8 MW of electricity, while the demand stands at 30 MW. Given these circumstances, load shedding is inevitable."
TDM/SD
