Date:29/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/29/stories/2008032959440300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Protest against power cuts

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: Traffic on the busy stretch between Ambattur and Avadi of Chennai Tiruvallur High (CTH) Road came to a standstill for over two hours late on Friday evening as several residents, including women and children, took to the road condemning the unannounced power cuts in their areas during night.

Residents alleged that despite repeated complaints to attend the problem, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) authorities did not turn up since Tuesday. The power cut had not only inconvenienced senior citizens, but also children studying for their public examinations.

The residents refused to disperse which resulted in the traffic coming to a standstill, a senior police officer said. The localities that went without power included a major portion of the 36th ward in the Chennai Corporation and its surrounding pockets such as Anna Nagar, Kariappa Nagar, Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, Senthamizh Nagar, Lakshmi Nagar and Modern City, residents said.