Cellphones put on charge at Bhagalpur railway station on Sunday. Picture by Amit Kumar

Bhagalpur, May 29: The residents of the town have been bearing the brunt of powercuts for over a week, prompting political parties (not the ruling alliance) to launch a mass movement against Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB), demanding immediate restoration of power.

Members of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) have announced a 12-hour bandh in Bhagalpur on May 31 to protest against the acute power and drinking water crisis.

The Bhagalpur Congress committee has decided to demonstrate at the office of the general manager, BSEB, Bhagalpur circle, on May 30.

According to RJD district president Chakrapani Himansu, BSEB is yet to restore power supply, which was snapped by a thunderstorm on May 21.

“The local MLA, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, who is also the state health minister and the local BJP MP, Shahnawaz Hussein, did not bother to take any measure to help the people of Bhagalpur,” Himansu alleged.

Senior state Congress leader Ajit Sharma expressed his dissatisfaction over the inactiveness of the MLA and MP in addressing the problem of the people. Following the thunder squall, the high-tension overhead wire for power supply was damaged and the city was plunged into darkness but the MLA and the MP hardly bothered to take up the issue, he alleged. He said the party would organise mass movements in the future.

Anamika Singh, a homemaker and a resident of Bhagalpur railway station area, said: “Complete powercut over the past nine days has virtually transformed this ancient silk city into a ghost town. Because of some important family work, this time, we decided not to go out during summer vacation but the adverse condition has compelled us to move out of Bhagalpur.”

Janardan Singh, a resident of Bhagalpur, has to change the venue of the marriage of his younger daughter.

He said: “Following the refusal of my relatives who did not wish to come here, the venue has been shifted to my ancestral village in Patna and for that, my budget would increase.”

Brajesh Verma, who came from Dumka last evening, said: “I could not withdraw money from the ATM in the city as the power crisis has compelled the banks to close down all the ATMs.”

He said: “Since I have no account in any branch here, I have no option but return to Dumka again.”