Power cuts: Protests in Kathua, Jammu and Samba in J&K

Scores of people in Samba and Jammu today held demonstrations against the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development department (PDD), while some blocked a highway in Kathua to protest "unscheduled" power cuts.
Shouting anti-PDD slogans, they also burnt an effigy of Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, police said.
Over 400 people from different hamlets adjoining Rajbaghassembled on the highway at Kathua and blocked the road, disrupting traffic.
The highway was reopened after around three hours, police said.
The protestors alleged that they were getting just seven to eight hours ofpower in a day since over last 15 days.
Demonstrations were held at Bishna in Samba and Bohri- Hazuribagh area in Jammu where they alleged they were "forced to live without electricity in suchhumid and hot weather conditions" and held PDD and administration responsible for it.

PDD official Anil Abrol said that it was authorities at the gridstation who are snapping power due to overload.
The protestors werepacified and assured early redressal to the problem by officials, police said.
Thehighway in Kathua was reopened after around three hours and the trafficresumed, police said.