Haryana power strike: 40,000 workers walk out, Gurugram hit by outages
About 40,000 Haryana electricity workers are on a three-day strike against a private power licence for Gurugram and Nuh, leaving homes and businesses in 15 districts without power or water.
At a glance
- About 40,000 electricity employees and engineers in India's Haryana state began a three-day strike on Thursday, October 22, running until Saturday, October 24.
- They oppose a 25-year parallel distribution licence granted on October 19 to Eleven Power Private Limited for Gurugram and Nuh, which together have more than 830,000 consumers.
- Outages have hit 15 districts including Gurugram, Faridabad, Hisar, Karnal and Ambala; residents report no water as pumps stop, and road blockades in Karnal and Faridabad.
- Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Power Minister Anil Vij say the state also opposes the licence and will challenge it at the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity.
- Hospitals, water works and the metro have been given priority supply in Gurugram.
About 40,000 electricity employees and engineers in the Indian state of Haryana are on a three-day strike that began on Thursday, October 22, 2026, leaving homes, offices and factories in at least 15 districts — including the business hub of Gurugram — with long power cuts and no running water. The workers are protesting against a regulator's decision to let a private company, Eleven Power Private Limited, distribute electricity in Gurugram and Nuh for 25 years alongside the state-owned companies.
What happened
The strike was called by the Haryana Electricity Employees and Engineers Joint Struggle Front, an alliance of regular and contract staff and power engineers. It is due to run until Saturday, October 24. Outages started late on October 21 in some areas, such as Hisar, and spread as faults went unrepaired.
Complaint centres, substations and divisional offices have been largely empty. Several 33-kV and 11-kV feeders that broke down have stayed out of service, cutting supply to neighbourhoods and industrial areas. The power department logged more than 3,000 outage complaints within 12 hours, according to local reports.
| Strike at a glance | Details |
|---|---|
| Workers on strike | About 40,000 employees and engineers |
| Dates | October 22–24, 2026 |
| Trigger | HERC order of October 19 |
| Private licence holder | Eleven Power Private Limited |
| Area covered | Gurugram and Nuh districts |
| Licence term | 25 years |
| Consumers affected by licence | More than 830,000 |
| Districts with outages | 15, incl. Gurugram, Faridabad, Hisar, Karnal, Ambala, Rohtak, Panipat, Panchkula |
In Gurugram, Sector 5, Sector 7, Palam Vihar, Daulatabad and parts of the old city were among the worst hit. Residents said inverter batteries had run out, water pumps had stopped even where tanks were full, and mobile phones and internet connections were failing. People working from home said they could not do their jobs. Angry residents blocked roads in Karnal and Faridabad.
Gurugram's deputy commissioner, Uttam Singh, ordered that hospitals, water supply plants and the metro be given priority supply.
Background
On October 19, the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) granted Eleven Power a "parallel" distribution licence. This means the more than 830,000 consumers in Gurugram and Nuh — households, farmers, shops, offices and industry — could choose between the private company and the state-run Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) and Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN).
Unions say the move is "backdoor privatisation" of the state's most profitable area. Gurugram's offices, malls and factories pay high tariffs that help subsidise cheaper electricity for farmers and poorer homes elsewhere in Haryana. Workers fear that if big customers switch, the state companies will lose money, jobs will be cut and subsidies will shrink.
Reactions
Front leader Devender Singh Hooda said the workers were not demanding higher pay or allowances but were trying to stop privatisation. National power-sector unions backed the strike and asked staff in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir not to go to Haryana as replacements. Farmer groups and trade unions held demonstrations, and opposition parties condemned the licence.
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini urged unions to call off the strike, saying the government stands with them against the licence and will challenge it before the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL), even offering to hire lawyers the unions choose. Power Minister Anil Vij called the strike "unwarranted", saying the state never invited applications for a private licence and that HERC is an independent body under central law. He told workers to leave the strike and join the legal fight.
Why it matters
Gurugram is one of India's biggest corporate centres, home to hundreds of multinational offices, so long power and water cuts hurt businesses as well as families. The dispute is also a test case for India: the central government has long pushed for competition in power distribution, while unions in many states strongly oppose it. What happens in Haryana could shape similar plans elsewhere in the country.
What happens next
The strike is scheduled to end on Saturday, October 24, unless unions extend it. The state government's appeal to APTEL, which seeks a stay on the licence, is the next key step. A high-level committee led by the chief secretary is monitoring supply, and district committees have been set up to restore power as quickly as possible.
Help for consumers
DHBVN customers can report outages on toll-free number 1912, or by WhatsApp on 8813999708 and 9540954768.
Questions people are asking
Why are Haryana electricity workers on strike?
They are protesting against the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission's October 19 decision to give Eleven Power Private Limited a 25-year licence to distribute electricity in Gurugram and Nuh alongside the state companies. Unions call it backdoor privatisation that threatens jobs and cheaper power for farmers and poor households.
How long will the Haryana power strike last?
The strike was called for three days, from Thursday, October 22 to Saturday, October 24, 2026. Unions have not said whether they will extend it.
What is the helpline number for power cuts in Gurugram?
Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) consumers can call the toll-free number 1912, or send a WhatsApp message to 8813999708 or 9540954768.
