LUCKNOW, July 22 -- A spate of transformer copper thefts across Lucknow has emerged as a new cause of prolonged power outages, exposing significant security lapses in the city's electricity infrastructure. The recurring thefts have disrupted power supply in several localities while inflicting substantial financial losses on the power utility, especially during the monsoon season when uninterrupted electricity is essential.

The latest incident was reported from Mayapuri Colony near Chaudhary Kheda in Kakori, where unidentified miscreants allegedly targeted a 400-kVA transformer on Monday night. They are accused of stealing the copper windings and transformer oil, leaving the equipment completely inoperative and disrupting power supply to ...