Srinagar: Residents of Naidkhai village in the Sumbal area of Bandipora district, located in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, staged a protest against extended power cuts, alleging neglect from authorities.

According to a statement by Kashmir Media Service, the villagers, expressing their frustration, blocked the Sopore-Sumbal road for several hours. They called for immediate action from the Power Development Department (PDD), criticizing the administration for not repairing a damaged transformer that has left the area without electricity for over a month.

Protesters accused the authorities of disregarding their calls for new electricity transformers, noting that the replacements sent were faulty and caused further issues shortly after installation. This, they said, compounded their difficulties.

With slogans highlighting the indifference of the PDD to their plight, residents pointed to a lack of accountability and delayed responses to their appeals. “We are left in darkness, but the administration seems blind to our suffering,” remarked one protester.

The protest aimed to shed light on the challenges faced by Kashmiri residents and the perceived apathy of the IIOJK authorities towards improving basic infrastructure.