Power Cuts Force Islanders to Pay for Their Own Backup
Sri Vijaya Puram | August 23, 2026 Frequent and prolonged power interruptions across parts of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are increasingly affecting everyday life, with residents not only losing hours of electricity but also being forced to spend their own money on inverters, batteries and other backup arrangements to maintain basic household and business activities. For many families, an inverter has gradually shifted from an optional convenience to an essential household expense. During repeated outages, residents depend on backup power for fans, lights, internet routers, computers and other basic electrical equipment. Small businesses face similar pressures, while students struggle to study during interruptions. The burden becomes particularly difficult in the Islands' hot and humid climate. A prolonged outage can mean several hours without fans or cooling, while households dependent on electric pumps, refrigerators and other appliances face additional difficulties. ...