Several districts in Andhra Pradesh were plunged into darkness following a flash strike by employees of power utilities in protest against the decision of the Centre to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh.

As a result of the strike, power generation and supply were crippled forcing the South Central Railway to cancel 25 passenger trains and six express trains in Seemandhra region.

Employees of Vijayawada thermal power station and Rayalaseema thermal power plant have decided to continue the stir after the completion of 48-hour bandh call given by the striking AP NGOs Association which is spearheading the movement for a united State.

A top Government official put the shortfall in power in the last two days at 3,600 MW, resulting in severe blackouts in Nellore, Prakasam, Krishna, Guntur, Chittoor, Anantapur and Kadapa districts. Worried about a likely tripping of the Southern grid, officials have resorted to region-wide power cuts to recoup the required levels.

They anticipate worsening of the situation from Monday as the employees of Eastern Power Distribution Company are expected to join the strike.

“As of now, there is no harm to the southern grid. Only parts of AP were impacted,” an official told Business Line on condition of anonymity.

Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy appealed to the power staff to withdraw the agitation, keeping in view the ongoing Brahmotsavam in Tirupati.

Meanwhile, violent agitations continued in Vizianagaram and other areas in Seemandhra against the bifurcation. The leaders of AP NGOs Association have said that there will be no let-up in the agitation.

“We have lost faith in the MPs of all political parties. They first said they will fight (against bifurcation) in Parliament. Now, they are keeping mum after the Cabinet had taken a decision. He said they would not go for talks with the Government,” Ashok Babu, President of the association, said.

Meanwhile, Telugu Desam Party President N. Chandrababu Naidu will begin a fast in New Delhi on Monday, protesting against the manner in which the Congress divided the State. He would leave for Delhi on Monday morning to begin the fast.

The party, which had given a letter to the Centre agreeing for the division, has been protesting against the hasty manner in which the decision was taken. It demands that the Centre should ensure ‘equal justice’ (to Telangana and Seemandhra regions).

YSR Congress Party President Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy, whose indefinite fast entered the second day today, denied allegation of Congress leader Digvijay Singh that his party had given consent for the division. “We had only said that equal justice should be done to both the regions,” he said.

>kurmanath.kanchi@thehindu.co.in

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