Raigarh, Chhattisgarh: Around 400 families in Kamarga village of Raigarh's Lailunga block have been without electricity for nearly 20 days after lightning damaged the village transformer during rain.According to residents, the transformer was damaged after being struck by lightning, bringing power supply to the village to a halt. The prolonged outage has disrupted daily life and created particular difficulties with water supply.Villagers said they are managing their water needs through nearby wells and other available sources. With no electricity at night, village lanes and roads remain dark, while many households have been forced to rely on candles and traditional lamps for lighting.Residents said they have already submitted a written complaint to officials of the electricity department regarding the damaged transformer. However, they claim that no repair or replacement has been carried out so far.The continuing outage has led to growing frustration among villagers, who are now demanding that the damaged transformer either be repaired immediately or replaced with a new one.Kamarga village sarpanch Kusum Khalkho said the prolonged power cut has made everyday life difficult for residents. She said people are struggling to arrange water and that the village remains in darkness after sunset.Kamarga is a village in Lailunga tehsil of Raigarh district. Official election records also list two polling stations in the village, while government records identify multiple schools operating in the Kamarga area.The immediate issue for residents remains restoration of electricity. The reported delay in repairing or replacing the transformer has left hundreds of families waiting for normal power supply to resume.

A man cut power connections to around 60 houses in Pandey Tola locality of Rewa city in the early hours of Wednesday, leaving the neighbourhood in darkness and sparking fear among residents, police and locals said. CCTV footage released by neighbours shows a lone youth moving through deserted lanes, tampering with overhead lines and disconnecting wires one house at a time.

What happened

• Around 3am, households began losing power one after another, residents said. Within minutes some 60 homes were plunged into darkness. Many woke up and stepped out to check, but by then the suspect had fled.

• CCTV clips circulated in the locality show a slim young man wearing a hoodie walking from house to house, pausing at meter points and cutting or loosening connections. The footage captured multiple instances of him bending near wiring and then walking away.

• Neighbours noticed the sequence when lights did not come back on, and later shared the CCTV with police.

Police action and investigation
City Kotwali police registered the complaint after being alerted by residents. Officers said they have taken the CCTV footage and begun door‑to‑door enquiries to identify the suspect. “We are verifying the visuals, questioning local witnesses and scanning nearby CCTV feeds to trace the person,” a senior officer said. He added that search operations are on and an arrest is likely soon.

Why locals are alarmed
Residents described the act as not only vandalism but a serious public‑safety risk. “It was pitch dark and everyone was scared; at that hour anything could have happened,” said one neighbour. People worried that the blackout could have enabled thefts, assaults or other crimes and have demanded increased night policing and patrolling in the area.

Community response and demands

• Locals have urged the administration to step up night patrols and deploy more police in Pandey Tola until the accused is caught.

• Some residents said street lighting and community watch arrangements need strengthening so single individuals cannot create such disruption.

• Neighbourhood groups have also begun sharing CCTV clips in local WhatsApp groups to help identify the man.

Utility company probe and restoration
Officials from the local electricity distribution company visited the area on Wednesday to assess damage and restore supply. Preliminary checks suggested deliberate tampering rather than a technical fault, company staff said. Power was gradually restored to most homes after repair work; exact restoration times varied by location.

What police are checking next
Investigators are examining:

• Additional CCTV footage from adjacent streets and businesses.

• Mobile network tower pings and recent theft or vandalism reports in the area.

• Whether similar incidents have occurred nearby in recent weeks.

The police have not yet released the suspect’s identity and said they will hand over details once an arrest is made. They urged residents to preserve any footage and avoid confronting suspicious individuals themselves.