Bengaluru: “Around 8 pm on Saturday, I was walking towards my PG when a bike-borne trio came close to me and screamed in my ears. They simply tried to scare me as I was alone. Since there was no power, I could not recognize their faces. Even before I could act, they fled,” recalls Anshika (name changed), a student residing in a PG in Koramangala.
Though she was a few metres away from the Koramangala police station, there was little she could do as the entire locality had plunged to darkness following power outage.
For many students like Anshika, walking on the street is nowadays a scary experience, thanks to the unscheduled power cuts of the Bescom. Although the government has not officially announced load shedding, untimely power outages are taking a toll on Bengalureans, especially during night.
As the city plunges into darkness, public places like parks, playgrounds and streets turn unsafe for citizens.
Eve-teasers, sexual predators and chain-snatchers are making the most under cover of darkness. Ritika, another student, said her PG mates have stopped stepping out to buy dinner as they fear the boys roaming outside their PG in S.G Palya.
“In the last few weeks, especially after power cuts have become regular during nights, we have noticed that a lot of boys roam around in the area. They move in big groups, all on bikes, and often passing lewd comments. Since the power supply is erratic, we fear for our safety and try to stay indoors after 6 pm,” she said. Though a little heavy on the pockets, the students have decided to order dinner, she adds.
While students in PGs are often threatened, life is no easier for others. Radhika, who returns from her office around 9.30 pm, says stray dog menace has rampantly increased during power outages in night.
And residents of Rajajinagar, Vijayanagar, Papaiahreddy Palya and J.P Nagar are taking to BBMP websites and other social platforms to bring the matter to the notice of the officials.
After the recent fire accident at Sharavathi power plant the state is short of 1,200 MW of power, it looks like the city will have to brace for more such unscheduled power cuts. However, that should not become the reason to expose Bengalureans to dangers, the city urges.
