Hundreds of electricity consumers allegedly faced severe inconvenience at the Teliamura office of Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) on Monday due to prolonged delays in recharge services, triggering widespread public resentment over the department's functioning.
Despite having two recharge counters; residents alleged that only one counter was operational, resulting in long queues. The situation reportedly worsened as repeated server failures forced customers to wait for hours in the sweltering heat.
Some local residents also alleged that while ordinary consumers stood in long lines, a few individuals known to office staff were allowed to recharge their electricity connections through another counter without waiting. However, these allegations could not be independently verified.
The situation became tense when journalists visited the office to inquire about the reasons behind the disruption. According to allegations, Junior Engineer Biswajit Biswas reacted angrily to questions from the media instead of providing explanations. He was accused of speaking to journalists in a rude and intimidating manner and objecting to video recording of the incident.
The incident has raised questions among locals over whether the official's behaviour was prompted by concerns that the department's alleged shortcomings would be exposed through media coverage.
Residents further claimed that complaints regarding the officer's alleged negligence in discharging official responsibilities had surfaced in the past as well. They also alleged that he spends more time creating content for social media than attending to public service responsibilities. These claims, however, could not be independently verified.
The incident has reignited concerns over accountability and transparency in public offices. Residents questioned why consumers continue to face daily hardships for basic electricity recharge services and called for the authorities to take corrective measures to improve service delivery at the Teliamura Electricity Corporation office.