13-hour-long power cut for procession

Residents of Jeevanahalli near Cox Town were hit by a power cut from 4 am to 5 pm on Sunday due to a temple car festival and mass Ganesha processions happening around Tannery Road and Frazer town.

“There was unrestricted noise. Crackers were burnt and drums beaten. Not even a single policeman was on the scene. Throughout the night, people gathered and made noise during the car festival,” said Rajalakshmi Nair, a resident of the area.
 Although there was no need for a power cut, residents link it to an accident which had occurred years ago when a woman was almost  electrocuted during a similar festival.

However, Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) top brass had no idea who gave the order to shut down power.
When DNA contacted Bescom’s call centre, officials said the local engineer shut the power down because of temple car festivities.
 But the question in the minds of residents is will Bescom shut down power for a car festival and cause inconvenience to many for the benefit of a few.

 “Nobody knows who gave the order to shut down power,” said P Manivannan, managing director, Bescom.

 Every rule was ignored during the car festival. “The organisers had no regard for anybody. People were screaming and playing loud music disturbing everyone. The noise did not stop even after 11.30 pm. It went on till 10 am on Sunday. There was no power either,” said Rajagopalan Swamy, a retired professor living in the area.