By TC News Desk
Agartala, 13th May 2025: In a startling development, Tripura Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath has alleged that the recent widespread power outage in Agartala and surrounding areas was the result of a pre-planned act of sabotage.
Addressing the media, the minister claimed that an “organized vicious circle” is deliberately targeting the state’s power infrastructure to plunge crucial localities into darkness. His remarks followed the emergence of CCTV footage that showed a man tampering with an electric transformer in the early hours of Tuesday.
The disruption, which began in the wee hours, left multiple neighborhoods in Agartala without electricity, prompting an urgent investigation by the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) and the state Power Department.
TSECL teams were dispatched to the affected zones following public complaints. While the main transmission lines remained operational, entire localities suffered outages. Preliminary findings uncovered a disturbing pattern—in several places, transformer gangs had been dismantled or removed, and in others, cutouts were found to be deliberately taken out.
A total of 21 transformers across the capital city were reported to have been vandalized.
The affected areas include Dhaleswar Road No. 8, Chandrapur Daspara, Dhaleswar Banshjhar , Chandrapur Roy Bari 1 & 2, Dhaleswar Road No. 9 , Joyguru Auto Stand, Joyguru Axis Bank area , Ashram Chaumuhani , Shivnagar PN Dev Road, Palki Bie Bari, Jamtala 1 & 2, Chandrapur Radiant Housing, Dhaleswar Road No. 7/14, Blue Lotus Club, Aluminum Factory, Shivnagar, Kamarpukur Par, Shivnagar Modern Club.
In some instances, unidentified individuals reportedly hurled heavy objects onto power lines, causing short circuits and widespread outages.A TSECL official said, “CCTV footage from Kamarpukur shows a man on a scooter throwing an object at a transformer gang, following which the entire area blacked out. More footage is currently being reviewed by the Power Department and the police.”An FIR has been registered at the East Agartala Police Station in connection with the incident. Minister Nath has also spoken to the Superintendent of Police (West Tripura) and the Officer-in-Charge of East Agartala PS, seeking swift action.
The Information Technology Department has also joined the probe to assist in identifying the culprits. “There is no shortage of power generation or supply in the state. What we are witnessing is a calculated attempt to disrupt normal life. This is not just vandalism—it’s a threat to public safety,” Minister Nath said.
