Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

Dear reader! Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah. how are you all Hope all are well by God's grace. I am also fine with your prayers and Allah's infinite mercy. Today's discussion is on " Load Shedding: An Unbearable Agony in the Scorching Summer Heat"

Picture created by Gemini

The fan blades spinning overhead suddenly slow down and grind to a halt. The surroundings plunge into pitch-black darkness in an instant. Imagining such a moment in this sweltering heat of April, especially amidst the severe heatwaves of the northern region, is enough to make one break out in a sweat. This familiar and highly frustrating situation is known as 'load shedding.' In modern civilization, where electricity is one of the main driving forces of our existence, load shedding feels like an unwelcome and agonizing standstill in our daily lives.

What is Load Shedding and Why Does it Happen?

Simply put, when electricity production falls short of the demand, power supply companies are forced to temporarily suspend electricity distribution in various areas on a rotational basis. This process is called load shedding. It is primarily a temporary measure aimed at protecting the entire power system or grid from a massive collapse.

However, there are several specific reasons behind load shedding in our country:

• Gap Between Demand and Supply: Constant industrialization, the construction of new housing, and improving living standards are constantly driving up demand. The use of electrical appliances like ACs and refrigerators has surged in every household. However, electricity production is not increasing at a proportional rate.
• Fuel Crisis: A significant portion of our power plants rely on gas, coal, or oil. Whenever there is a price hike or supply shortage of fuel in the international market, power generation is severely disrupted.
• Faulty Distribution System and System Loss: The transmission lines that deliver electricity from power plants to consumers are often quite old. This results in a massive wastage of electricity along the transmission lines, known as 'system loss.'
• Illegal Connections: There is a widespread tendency to establish illegal electricity connections in various parts of the country. This stolen electricity remains unaccounted for, placing an immense extra burden on the national grid.

The Impact of Load Shedding on Daily Life and Public Suffering

The impact of load shedding is deeply felt in every aspect of our lives. When the temperature hovers around 40 degrees Celsius in this intense summer, a power outage translates into sheer hellish agony.

Family and Mental Distress

After a grueling day of hard work, when people seek a peaceful night's sleep, a power outage snatches that peace away. The suffering of children and the elderly, in particular, is indescribable. Children cry profusely as they drench in sweat, and the elderly suffer from increased respiratory issues and other physical ailments. The lack of proper sleep at night leads to a lack of concentration at work the next day and causes severe irritability.

Disaster in the Education System

Load shedding is a massive hurdle for students. Just before exams, when the pressure to study is at its peak, power outages lasting for hours severely disrupt their preparation. Studying for extended periods under the dim light of candles or emergency lamps not only strains the eyes but also breaks concentration. Compared to urban areas, students in rural regions suffer multiple times more from this crisis.

Stagnation in the Economy, Agriculture, and Healthcare

Uninterrupted power is essential to keep a country's economic wheels turning. Load shedding practically puts chains on these wheels.

Impact on Agriculture

Our economy is primarily agrarian. Especially during these months of Baishakh and Jaistha, when mangoes in the famous orchards of the northern region begin to grow from blossoms, regular irrigation is required. Additionally, Boro paddy and other crop fields also have a massive demand for water. Irrigation pumps run mostly on electricity. Without adequate power, irrigation is disrupted, fields dry up and crack, and there is a severe risk of a drastically reduced yield.

Industry and Commerce

Large and small factories, including the garments industry, are entirely dependent on electricity. Due to load shedding, factory production comes to a halt, causing financial losses to the owners and making it impossible to deliver products to foreign buyers on time. Moreover, local small business owners, such as those running photocopy shops, computer centers, or tailoring shops, see their income completely stop during power outages. Cold storages also face situations where raw materials and medicines perish due to power interruptions.

Risks in Healthcare

Load shedding creates life-and-death situations in hospitals and clinics. While large hospitals have backup generators, many small clinics and sub-district health complexes lack adequate facilities. If the power goes out during a surgical procedure in the operating theater, the patient's life is put at severe risk. Furthermore, many life-saving drugs and vaccines must be stored at specific temperatures, which is impossible without uninterrupted electricity.

The Way Forward

It is not possible to eliminate this national problem of load shedding overnight, but it is certainly solvable through long-term, planned initiatives.

• Increasing the Use of Renewable Energy: Instead of relying solely on gas or coal, the use of renewable energy sources like solar power, wind energy, and biogas must be expanded. The use of solar panels can be particularly encouraged in rural areas and for agricultural purposes.
• Reducing System Loss and Modernizing the Grid: Transmission lines need to be modernized to bring power wastage during transmission down to the absolute minimum.
• Preventing Corruption and Disconnecting Illegal Lines: The government must take a strict stance against any form of corruption and illegal connections in the power sector.
• Raising Public Awareness: Just as the government has a responsibility for power generation, citizens must also be conscious about saving electricity. We need to build the habit of turning off fans, lights, or ACs when not needed. Maximum use of natural light should be made during the day, and energy-efficient LED bulbs should be utilized.

Final Thoughts

Electricity is no longer a luxury item; rather, it has become one of the fundamental rights of modern life. Education, healthcare, agriculture, or the economy—electricity is the main driving force behind them all. To free the nation from the curse of load shedding, coordinated efforts from both government and private sectors are absolutely essential. At the same time, as ordinary citizens, we must be mindful of preventing the wastage of electricity. Only then, perhaps, will we no longer face the unbearable agony of load shedding even amidst the scorching heat of summer, and the silence of the night will be accompanied only by the soothing, continuous whir of the ceiling fan.

Thanks for reading today's article.

Device Used: Realme C25s

Camera: 48mp camera

Location: Bangladesh

Short by: @hayat90