The residents of Patna have no respite from frequent load shedding in the sweltering heat, despite the power board’s claim to provide adequate electricity to the capital.

Citizens had to bear frequent power cuts, lasting from 15 minutes to an-hour-and-a-half on Thursday and Friday. Availability of power was not the problem, though.

The state drew 1,461MW from the central sector, including the electricity that the board purchased from National Thermal Power Corporation and Adani Power.

Sources said the real problem plaguing power supply is the technical faults in the distribution system. Patna Electric Supply Undertaking (Pesu) had earlier claimed that it had made all necessary arrangements to cope with the power problems that crop up in summer. But the increased load, particularly on distribution transformers, has exposed the Achilles’ heel of the power board’s claim.

On Thursday night, the Ara-Khagaul circuit tripped, leading to power cuts in different areas like Bailey Road, Patel Nagar, Rajvanshi Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Ashiana Nagar, Magistrate Colony, Khajpura, Jagdeo Path, Samanpura, AG Colony, Sheikhpura, some parts of Boring Road, Patliputra, New Patliputra Colony, Rajiv Nagar, Kesri Nagar, Indirapuri, Digha and Kurji.

Citizens were naturally displeased with this development.

“It is difficult to bear even a 15-minute power cut in the sweltering heat,” said Rajiv Nagar resident Abhay Kumar.

He was not very hopeful about the situation improving in future. “This is just the beginning. People will have to face more power cuts in the dog days of summer,” said Kumar.

Others had to face more embarrassing situations. “We had to sit with our guests in candlelight for almost two hours. We were all sweating. It was a very awkward situation,” said Ashiana Nagar resident Sanjiv Shankar.

Asked why there were frequent power cuts in different parts of the city, Pesu general manager-cum-chief engineer SKP Singh told The Telegraph: “There are no power cuts on account of transmission systems. Even Digha grid is supplying 55-60MW to western Patna. Power cuts are occurring due to the increased load factor, which leads to frequent fuse-off calls. This is happening because of increased load on a particular transformer of an area.”

The Digha grid sub-station started supplying power on April 2 to the western part of the capital, where power cut was a frequent phenomenon.

Asked why an entire area plunges into darkness if only a fuse of a particular transformer is damaged, Singh explained that if the transformer concerned is equipped with an AB (air-break) switch then no one will affected except for those who have direct connection from that particular transformer.

Unfortunately, out of about 4,000 transformers in urban Patna, only 50 per cent are equipped with AB switches.

“The AB switch disconnects the transformer from the rest of the power supply system. But if the transformer is not equipped with the particular switch, then the power has to be snapped from the substation to repair the fuse,” said Singh.

The senior officer also said transformers would be equipped with AB switches in next the three years under the restructured accelerated power development and reforms programme.

The Ara-Khagaul circuit is at present being repaired by Power Grid Corporation of India officials and power is being supplied to west Patna from other circuits, said Singh.