Consumers protest prepaid meter recharge disruptions at Kumarghat Power Office

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Mounting dissatisfaction over prepaid electricity meter services erupted into a protest at the Kumarghat Sub-Divisional Office of the Tripura State Electricity Corporation after consumers faced difficulties recharging their meters, resulting in power disconnections in several areas. The situation became tense enough to require police intervention before authorities restored the online recharge facility.

A large number of consumers from Kumarghat, Fatikroy and neighbouring localities gathered outside the electricity corporation's office, alleging that their power supply had been disconnected after the balance in their prepaid meters was exhausted. According to the protesters, attempts to recharge their connections were unsuccessful as the recharge counter remained closed due to a government holiday, while the online recharge system was also reportedly non-functional.

The disruption left many households without electricity, triggering widespread resentment among consumers who claimed they were left with no immediate means of restoring their power connections. As frustration grew, protesters assembled outside the office and voiced strong criticism of the electricity utility's service management.

During the demonstration, consumers questioned the reliability of the prepaid metering system and argued that repeated service disruptions were causing hardship for ordinary residents. Several protesters also expressed dissatisfaction with the government's handling of electricity-related issues and demanded that the prepaid metering system be reviewed. Some went a step further, calling for the restoration of the previous postpaid billing arrangement.

The protest led to heightened tension at the Kumarghat power office premises, prompting officials from Kumarghat Police Station, led by Officer-in-Charge Sanjoy Das, to rush to the spot and bring the situation under control.

Under pressure from the agitating consumers, the online recharge service was eventually made operational, allowing affected users to recharge their meters and restore electricity supply. Following this, the situation gradually returned to normal.

The incident has once again highlighted public concerns surrounding the functioning of the prepaid electricity metering system in Tripura, with consumers demanding more reliable recharge facilities and uninterrupted access to essential services.

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