The residents of Gilgit have been plunged into darkness for over a week, enduring near-total power outages with electricity available for just one hour a day. The prolonged blackout, which has now stretched beyond seven days, has left daily life in disarray, crippling local businesses and severely affecting the community’s access to essential services.
Load shedding, lasting up to 23 hours a day, has paralyzed the region, leaving homes without power and cutting off mobile and internet connectivity. Many residents, unable to charge their phones, have been left disconnected from communication networks, further intensifying their frustration. The outage also caused SCO towers to lose signals as backup power sources dwindled.
Local resident Muhammad Zubair described the situation as unbearable, stating, “We are living in the dark, both literally and metaphorically. With no electricity, our phones are dead, our businesses have come to a standstill, and our lives have been completely disrupted.” Another resident, Shahid Ali, voiced his concerns, saying, “Children can’t study, and daily activities have become a nightmare. We are mentally exhausted.”
The government has attributed the power outage to a damaged water channel that supplies electricity to the region. According to Gilgit-Baltistan’s Information Minister Eiman Shah, a large boulder struck the channel at Naltar, causing significant damage and halting the power supply. “Unfortunately, this made it impossible to continue the supply of electricity,” the minister said. He added, “We understand the frustration of the people and have worked tirelessly to restore power. Light is expected to return today.”
The week-long blackout has sparked widespread criticism of the Gilgit-Baltistan government’s preparedness in handling such disruptions. As officials scramble to resolve the issue, residents remain hopeful for a swift return to normalcy, with power expected to be restored soon.
The outage has raised questions about the region’s infrastructure and the government’s ability to manage unforeseen crises, with many calling for more robust measures to prevent future power failures.