Irate residents staged a protest against the Punjab Government and Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) for failing to restore power and water supply here about 48 hours after the passing of the storm.

Uprooted trees, broken power poles and damaged cars with cables blocking the roads could be seen in Phases 7, 4, 10 and Sector 71 late in the evening, 24 hours after the storm hit the Tricity.

Senior citizens anger boiled over as there was no power and water supply to their houses since yesterday morning. Their umpteen calls to PSPCL and Municipal Corporation officials went unanswered throughout the day.

Mayor Amarjit Singh Sidhu faced senior citizens' ire over a complete breakdown of the system as he visited his ward, 24 hours after the damage caused by the thunderstorm.

"Where is Mohali MLA when people need him. The administration appears to have given in to a windstorm as if it was a calamity. Six-hour disruption is understandable, but 28 hours and no solution in sight. Is the administration living in dark ages?" asked Manmohan Singh, a Phase 4 resident.

Outside the Phase 1 police station, it has been more than 24 hours that the main road remained blocked with authorities making no effort to remove an uprooted tree. A handful of PSPCL employees were salvaging damaged infrastructure and cables.

Residents complained that the PSPCL was working with skeletal staff and struggling to restore power supply. A special team was requisitioned from Patiala today after the local team failed to spot the recurring faults.

No pruning of trees

Residents were particularly angry with the MC for failing to prune tall trees in residential areas. Many uprooted trees caused extensive damage to power lines and vehicles. "What is this government waiting for? Should someone die under these fallen trees to wake up the MC and the department concerned?" asked Phase 7 resident Inder Pal Singh Malhotra.

More than 20 villages off Handesra circle remained powerless for second day today. Shakti Nagar residents in Dera Bassi spent second night in a row without power. Parts of Lalru Mandi, Magraan, Model Town witnessed erratic power supply.

Till 6 pm today, power supply was not restored to Shiva Enclave, AKS-2, City Enclave, Shivalik Vihar, parts of Baltana and areas nearby Bhabat village. Water supply in these areas was also disrupted in the absence of power.

Zirakpur resident Om Prakash said as there was no electricity and water for the past 36 hours, it had become difficult for residents to carry out daily chores. People demanded that the administration and the Municipal Council should set up more tubewells equipped with generators, so that water supply was maintained during the power crisis.

Meanwhile, PSPCL SDO Rakesh Bhatia said, "Power supply was restored in the city around 2:30 am. There are complaints about power supply not being operational in some areas, and accordingly, work is being done on a war footing to restore the supply. Power supply will be resumed to all the areas today."