The practice of suspending power supply during squalls or thundershowers would soon be history.

Energy department secretary Sandeep Poundrik has expressed displeasure over the power distribution companies’ tendency of disconnecting supply during adverse climatic conditions. He said strict action would be initiated against officials failing to obey the order. District magistrates had been asked to keep vigil on the practice of stopping/disconnecting supply in the area during rain or squalls, Poundrik said.

The directive of Poundrik assume significance, as three days of light to moderate pre-monsoon rainfall had exposed the distribution companies’ claims of providing uninterrupted power supply in the city. Residents had a bitter experience after showers and high-speed winds affected power supply on May 25, 26 and 27. An executive engineer-rank official told The Telegraph: “The distribution company stops power supply as a preventive measure during rain or squall to avoid electrocution.” In a meeting convened by chief secretary Ashok Kumar Sinha on Wednesday to review the progress of various schemes and projects in the districts of north Bihar, Poundrik said: “Obstacles created owing to squalls and thunderstorms must be removed in a quick span of time so that people get power supply without much delay.” He directed officials of Bihar State Power (Holding) Company Ltd and its subsidiary firms to ensure quick restoration of power supply in the event of breakdown by rectifying the faults as early as possible.

Sources said works related to maintenance of distribution transformers and supply network have to be completed by June-end as the monsoon is expected to hit the state around mid-June.