Tripura: Residents block Sonamura-Kathalia road over year-long transformer breakdown

Anger boiled over in Bejimara’s Ward Nos. 3 and 4 on Wednesday morning as residents staged a road blockade on the Sonamura–Kathalia route, protesting against a power transformer that has remained defunct for nearly a year. 

The demonstration, which began around 10:00 AM, disrupted traffic for over an hour, leaving office‑goers, schoolchildren, pedestrians, and even relatives of patients stranded.

Locals alleged that despite repeated complaints to the electricity department, no effective steps were taken to repair or replace the faulty transformer. Temporary fixes through makeshift connections had failed to provide a stable supply, leaving households in prolonged distress.

Protesters said the lack of electricity has severely affected daily life, with families struggling to manage basic needs. The blockade was intended to force authorities to act after months of inaction.

On receiving news of the agitation, Sonamura Nagar Panchayat Vice‑Chairman Shahjan Mia rushed to the spot. He assured residents that the transformer would be repaired within a day and promised swift resolution. Following his assurance, the blockade was lifted.

However, locals warned that if the repair is not completed within the promised timeframe, they will resume their agitation. The incident has once again highlighted the fragile state of power infrastructure in parts of Tripura and the frustration of communities forced to endure prolonged outages.