Campbell Bay (Great Nicobar), April 28 : Four days without electricity have pushed the remote villages of Laxmi Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, and Shastri Nagar in Great Nicobar into crisis mode, prompting large-scale protests as frustration boils over. Residents have blocked key transport routes and are demanding immediate intervention to restore power.
The blackout, which started escalating around April 18, 2025, has completely disrupted daily life. Mobile networks have collapsed, cutting off vital communication links between the islanders and the mainland. Without access to information or emergency services, residents are increasingly vulnerable, especially in an already isolated region.
On Monday, hundreds of villagers mounted a road blockade on State Highway 2 (SH-2) at Gandhi Nagar, preventing the State Transport Service (STS) bus from proceeding to Campbell Bay. Their core demand is the urgent deployment of a functional generator to provide interim relief. Protesters vowed to continue their agitation indefinitely until stable electricity is restored.
The latest crisis comes after earlier efforts by the Electricity Department to upgrade infrastructure by replacing about 2.5 kilometers of old Aerial Bunched Cables (ABC). However, the new cables reportedly failed soon after installation, plunging the villages back into darkness and sparking accusations of negligence against the administration.
Residents pointed out that prior to full grid connection, a modest generator installed at Gandhi Nagar used to provide critical backup power, especially during frequent disruptions caused by tree falls along the North-South Road. Despite community opposition, the generator was removed a few years ago , a decision that today stands widely criticized.
Speaking to The Wave Andaman, many locals said they feel “abandoned” by the authorities. Efforts by The Wave Andaman to get official comments from the Electricity Department in Sri Vijaya Puram and Great Nicobar remained unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
