Sangrur, June 26: Public services at the Sanghera Seva Kendra in Punjab’s Sangrur district came to a halt on Friday after a prolonged power outage. As a result, dozens of citizens waited for hours to access essential government services.
The power failure affected computers, internet connectivity, biometric systems, and document processing. Therefore, officials could not process applications. Many residents had arrived early to apply for certificates, update official documents, and complete other government work. However, they had to wait until electricity returned.
According to local officials, a technical fault caused the outage. Staff members quickly informed the electricity department. They also requested immediate technical support. Soon after, repair teams started restoration work. However, the outage continued for several hours. During that time, almost all online services remained unavailable.
Meanwhile, many visitors expressed disappointment. Several people had travelled from nearby villages to complete official work. Others had taken leave from their jobs for the visit. Because of the disruption, they returned without completing their applications. Many citizens urged the authorities to install generators or high-capacity UPS systems to prevent similar incidents.
Officials at the Seva Kendra apologized for the inconvenience. They assured citizens that pending applications would be processed after services resumed. In addition, they advised affected visitors to return on the next working day if necessary.
The Punjab Government continues to expand digital governance through Seva Kendras. These centres offer Aadhaar updates, birth and death certificates, income and caste certificates, pension services, land records, and welfare scheme applications. Therefore, any disruption in electricity or internet services directly affects thousands of citizens.
Later in the day, electricity supply was restored. Officials resumed work immediately. Even so, the centre could not clear the backlog before closing time. Consequently, several visitors had to return home without completing their work.
Overall, the incident highlighted the need for reliable power supply at government service centres. It also showed the importance of strong backup infrastructure. Such facilities can ensure uninterrupted public services and improve the overall experience for citizens across Punjab.
Leave a Reply