Power cuts: Bhagalpur residents go on rampage

BHAGALPUR (BIHAR): Enraged over power crisis, angry residents today went on rampage and burnt a power house, ransacked railway station, attacked Vikramshila Express and government vehicles demanding uninterrupted power supply to Bhagalpur town in Bihar.

Facing severe power crisis since the past week, thousands descended on the street, marched to a power house before torching it, damaged the bikes of employees and burnt tyres at several places in the town, throwing life out of gear.

Official sources said hundreds of locals then stormed the Bhagalpur railway station and pelted stones at Bhagalpur-New Delhi Vikramshila Express.

The district magistrate and superintendent of police too incurred the wrath of the protesters who misbehaved with them and damaged their official vehicles, officials said.

Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel soon took control of the situation with use of mild force and arrested two of the agitators, sources said.

The agitators burnt tyres blocking several vital roads and paralysed normal life and functioning of the hospitals demanding that the state government take immediate steps to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the area, sources said.

Life was virtually thrown out of gear because of the protest, they said.

Bhagalpur town is going without power for the past few days causing immense hardships to locals who were also facing drinking water crisis.

Adequate security personnel were deployed to maintain law and order.