Frustration over frequent unannounced power cuts boiled over in parts of Rewa district late Saturday night as villagers blocked the National Highway, bringing traffic to a complete standstill for more than four hours.

Residents from areas under Saman and Raipur Karchuliyan police stations sat on the road near Ratara bypass, halting movement in both directions. Hundreds of trucks, buses, cars and other vehicles were stuck in long queues stretching several kilometres, leaving passengers and drivers stranded in the middle of the night.

The blockade began around midnight when a large group of villagers, tired of prolonged power outages amid scorching heat and humidity, decided to take to the streets. Locals complained that despite repeated complaints to the electricity department, there has been no improvement in supply. Many said hours-long blackouts were making daily life miserable.

Police and administration officials rushed to the spot soon after receiving information. They engaged with the protesting villagers, trying to persuade them to clear the road. After prolonged discussions, the protesters finally agreed to lift the blockade. Traffic movement resumed slowly in the early hours.

Raipur Karchuliyan police station in-charge Rajkumar Tiwari confirmed that villagers resorted to the highway blockade due to electricity problems. He referred further details to Saman police station in-charge Vijay Singh, who declined to comment when contacted.

The electricity department has so far maintained silence on the issue, which has only added to the anger among residents. No official statement has come from the department regarding the frequent power cuts or steps being taken to improve the situation.

This is not the first time villagers in the area have taken to the streets over electricity issues. Earlier too, residents of Ajgarha village under Saman police station had blocked the highway demanding better power supply. Such repeated protests are raising serious questions about the power infrastructure and management in the region.

With summer temperatures still high, the power crisis is affecting both rural households and daily economic activities. Farmers, small shopkeepers and students are among the worst hit. Many fear that if the situation does not improve soon, more such agitations could erupt in other parts of the district.

Local leaders and public representatives are also coming under pressure to take up the matter with higher authorities. For now, the focus remains on restoring normalcy and ensuring that such long outages do not recur.

Further details on the power department’s response and any concrete steps to address the grievance are still awaited. The incident once again highlights the growing impatience among people over basic civic issues in smaller districts of Madhya Pradesh.