BAREILLY: For more than 3 weeks, over 5,000 residents of Soraha in UP’s Budaun district have been in darkness in severe winter cold, thanks to the theft of a 250kVA transformer that supplied power to the village. The theft came to light on December 14, when villagers, on their routine walks, found the transformer missing. It had been stripped of everything that could be sold – copper wires, oil, and other metal segments – and dumped under straw in nearby fields. No replacement has been provided yet.
Village head Satpal Singh told TOI, “Lack of electricity is affecting studies, especially with UP board exams scheduled for next month. Without power, inverters and mobile phones are useless, and submersible pumps for water are not operational.” Residents have repeatedly appealed to the electricity department and district officials for a quick resolution.
Executive engineer Narendra Chaudhary said that the department had taken steps to assist the village temporarily. “A supply connection has been arranged from a nearby village to alleviate the problem. Most transformer thefts occur during winter, so we’ve sought increased patrolling from police. A report has been filed, and we hope that police will solve the case soon,” Chaudhary said.
However, many villagers dispute the claim of an alternate power supply. “The electricity department is providing false information. Power supply has not been restored, and we have been living in darkness since the theft,” Pramod Gupta, a resident, said on Monday.
Ughaiti SHO Kamlesh Kumar Mishra, told TOI, “The electricity department reported the theft on Dec 14, and an FIR has been registered against unknown persons. We are investigating the case and have received some leads. Mobile phone activity & CCTV footage from the area are being analysed. Nature of the theft, involving a live line, suggests possible insider involvement. We are confident that the case will be resolved soon.”