3-day hostage crisis of power utility employees ends

The 3-day-long hostage crisis of employees of the Bharatiya Rail Bijlee Company Ltd (BRBCL) and their family members ended Tuesday evening in Bihar's Aurangabad, officials said.

The impasse was resolved during a meeting where it was decided that the BRBCL would supply power to the villages till the South Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd (SBPDCL) provides electricity connection to the villages.

Representatives of Aurangabad district administration, BRBCL and the villagers who held around 150 of its employees and their family members hostage demanding restoration of power in their villages, attended the meeting.

The 1,000-mw power plant located in Aurangabad is a joint venture between the NTPC and the railways.

"The deadlock has been resolved," Aurangabad District Magistrate Rahul Ranjan Mahiwal told PTI but refused to elaborate on the issue.

When contacted, Nabinagar Circle Officer Rakesh Kumar said, "An agreement has been reached between the villagers and the BRBCL management under which power supply to the villagers will be restored and they will continue the power till South Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd (SBPDCL) provides power connection to the villagers."