Ludhiana, July 26 -- Several localities remained without electricity for up to 14 hours after Friday night's rain and thunderstorm in the city as fault rectification and consumer service operations slowed amid a shortage of field staff due to the ongoing strike by 315 outsourced employees of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), officials said.

The outsourced employees resumed their strike on the night of July 22, alleging that the Punjab government and PSPCL management failed to honour their assurance of issuing notifications and joining letters by July 15 for eligible workers to be brought under departmental contracts.

According to officials and consumers, electricity supply remained disrupted in parts of Model Town, Aga...