A violent storm that struck Ranchi on Sunday evening has left the city battling widespread power failures, disrupting daily life across many neighborhoods and businesses. The tempest uprooted over 150 electric poles and damaged six power transformers, primarily affecting rural parts of the district and plunging them into extended darkness.

D N Sahu, superintendent engineer of Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (JBVNL) for the Ranchi circle, confirmed that the storm caused severe damage to power infrastructure. Though the financial toll is yet to be calculated, the power outage persisted through Monday as crews worked tirelessly to restore service.

Many localities, including Tatisilwai, Namkum, Lowadih, and Chutia, faced power cuts starting Saturday evening, continuing into Monday, severely inconveniencing residents. Wind snapped several power lines on Saturday, many of which were repaired only to break again on Sunday during renewed gusts.

JBVNL officials are repairing lines as quickly as possible, but the situation remains challenging. Despite plans to replace overhead power cables with underground lines—intended to reduce outages during storms and festivals—only about 20% of Ranchi’s overhead lines have been converted so far. Progress has stalled in the last 18 months, awaiting fresh funding.

Sunday’s rainfall varied across the region, with Ranchi receiving 24.8 mm and Ramgarh the highest at 28.5 mm. The state meteorological department predicts continued light to moderate rain with strong winds up to 60 km/h for the next five days, urging residents to exercise caution.

The blackout’s impact has hit students and households hard. Sneha Singh, preparing for a polytechnic exam, struggled without power to revise crucial lessons. Madan Singh from Tatisilwai suffered thousands in losses after a short circuit damaged his home appliances.

Local businessman Sukhinder Khandit noted a sharp surge in generator rentals, but his limited stock cannot meet soaring demand. Many residents remain trapped in darkness, highlighting the urgent need for better storm-resilient infrastructure.