Residents celebrate transformer installations with 'bhangra'

HYDERABAD:

The residents of Hyderabad are facing prolonged power outages due to the delayed replacement and repair of faulty transformers, turning these devices into unexpected symbols of both frustration and celebration. Frequent transformer failures-often left unrepaired for days-leave entire neighborhoods without electricity and water, particularly unbearable during extreme heat.

When new transformers finally arrive, affected communities celebrate with drums, dancing, garlands, and even cash being thrown in the air as a mark of joy and gratitude to those who helped restore power. Videos of these celebrations have gone viral on social media, sparking widespread commentary.

A notable example occurred in Shah Faisal Colony of Kacha Qila, where residents celebrated the installation of two transformers after a ten-day blackout. Similarly, residents of TMC Hussainabad's UC-140 honored their chairman, Zulfiqar Janwari, with garlands and money for facilitating transformer replacement.

Despite such moments of relief, protests persist. In Phuleli's Kachchi Mohalla, residents-many of them children-blocked roads and burned tires in protest of a ten-day blackout caused by a non-functional transformer. The situation highlights not only systemic inefficiencies in HESCO's response but also the emotional and social toll of chronic power failures on communities.