BJP seeks answer from PM over power outages

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday castigated the government for the breakdown of the northern power grid and sections of eastern and northeastern grids and said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh owes an answer for "mismanagement" of power sector.

BJP spokesperson Prakash Javedakar said a second major power outage had occurred a day after northern India was hit by one of the worst power failures Monday.

"The whole machinery has failed to locate the exact fault. This is manifestation of mismanagement, a policy failure... unheard of things are happening. Prime minister, power minister owe an answer," Javadekar told reporters here.

He said reports of such large-scale power outage lowers the esteem of the country.

Javadekar called upon the government to press the crisis button and said it must immediately do "what is possible technically and managerially".

Large parts of north and east India went without power Tuesday as the Northern Grid and sections of the Eastern and Northeastern Grid broke down, affecting supply in almost 20 states and paralysing train traffic as well as essential services such as the Delhi Metro.