Ludhiana, June 12 -- The thunderstorm that brought much-needed relief from scorching temperatures on Thursday ended up triggering a major power crisis across Ludhiana and adjoining areas, with PSPCL's Estate Division emerging as the worst-hit. As strong winds uprooted poles and damaged power infrastructure, 24 feeders in the division went out of service, leaving thousands of consumers in localities such as Giaspura, Focal Point, Sahnewal, Dugri, Hambra, Jawahar Nagar, Shyam Nagar, Tibba Road, Jail Road, Lohara, Shimlapuri, Gill, and Lalto without electricity for six hours.

While residents welcomed the sudden drop in temperature after days of intense heat, the storm exposed vulnerabilities in the power distribution network at a time when ...