Mumbaikars use car AC, malls, walks to escape power cuts

Mumbai: Relentless electricity outages are drawing out the power of innovation within Mumbaikars. With erratic power supply persisting across Mumbai Metropolitan Region, harassed residents are resorting to unusual measures to beat the heat.At 3 am two weeks ago, cars in the parking lot of a Dahisar housing society suddenly stirred to life. Soaked in sweat after a midnight power failure, residents were thinking of ways to keep themselves cool."After fanning my kids for an hour with pillows and books, we finally decided to go and sit in the car and start the AC," said a homemaker. Following her lead, other residents got into their vehicles. "We went for a drive around 4 am and were out for half an hour," said member Garvit Mehta.Later that day, there was a second power cut. This time, families were prepared. Deepa Shah and her teen daughter went to an air-conditioned mall in Borivli and spent the day at ease. "We did some window shopping, had dinner at the mall and came home really late in the night," Shah said.Last week, a corporate firm in Goregaon experienced a power cut and immediately fired their generator. But the ACs were not switched on lest they trip the generators.

"There are no fans in the office and the windows are all glass and unopenable," said a partner. Parked vehicles came to the rescue again. Soon, Microsoft Teams and Zoom calls came alive in the parking lot as directors and partners trooped into their cars for online meetings.Tactful residents of Kandivli have adopted affordable alternatives. "Many have bought small handheld fans available for a few hundred rupees.

They provide a cool breeze for hours after charging, and offer welcome respite when ceiling fans fail," said one resident.Altered sleep routines are causing neighbours to bond over shared misery. Manish Dhotre of Girgaum said power cuts over the past month have forced people onto the streets between 1 am and 4 am. "We stroll outside because it's unbearable indoors. During these walks, residents vent their frustration about power companies and even discuss plans to protest or approach BEST," he said.Navi Mumbai is not islanded from grid failures either. "In Kamothe, mothers carried small babies in their arms, took them to parked cars, and switched on the air-conditioning so the children could sleep peacefully," said a resident of Rajesh Society. Some buildings in Navi Mumbai managed partial relief by running lights and fans in reception lobbies through generators, allowing residents to lounge about until supply resumes.Power utility officials have attributed the disruptions to a sharp spike in electricity consumption, driven by an increased use of air-conditioners, geysers and other high-load appliances.Authorities have requested consumers to declare their electricity load online to help distribution companies upgrade infrastructure. An MSEDCL official acknowledged the situation as frustrating, noting that upgrades such as new transformers and feeder strengthening are underway to meet rising demand across MMR.