Jammu: Large parts of Jammu experienced prolonged power outages on Saturday night after a sharp decline in river discharge affected hydroelectric power generation, leading to a significant gap between electricity demand and available supply.
The issue was officially acknowledged by Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL) through a public message posted on its official social media handle. According to the utility, reduced water discharge in rivers impacted power generation capacity, forcing unscheduled outages in several areas across the Jammu region.
In its advisory, JPDCL stated that efforts were being made to procure additional power to overcome the crisis and stabilize supply during peak demand hours. The department also appealed to consumers to use electricity judiciously until the situation improves.
The disruption reportedly affected both urban and semi-urban areas, with residents complaining of repeated power cuts during the night.
Several consumers took to social media to express frustration over the outages, particularly as temperatures continue to rise in the region, increasing dependence on cooling appliances and electricity consumption.
Jammu and Kashmir’s power sector relies heavily on hydroelectric generation, which is directly dependent on river discharge levels.
During periods of low water flow, especially in transitional weather conditions, electricity generation from hydropower stations declines considerably. This often creates pressure on the grid, particularly during evening peak hours when consumption rises sharply.
Officials indicated that the sudden shortfall in generation coincided with increased power demand, making load management difficult.
While the administration has initiated measures to procure electricity from external sources, officials said restoring normal supply across all affected areas may take time depending on generation recovery and availability of purchased power.
The outages have once again highlighted Jammu and Kashmir’s continued dependence on hydropower and the vulnerability of the electricity network during seasonal fluctuations in river flow.
Experts have repeatedly stressed the need for strengthening alternative power sources, improving storage capacity and modernizing transmission infrastructure to reduce the impact of such disruptions.
Meanwhile, consumers have been advised to avoid unnecessary electricity usage, particularly during peak evening hours, so that available power can be distributed more effectively across affected areas.
JPDCL said efforts are continuing on a war footing to manage the crisis and minimize inconvenience to the public.
