Pesky power cuts across district Pulwama Thursday triggered massive protest against Power Development Department while protestors locked Receiving Station Awantipora restricting the movement of employees for hours together. Eyewitnesses told CNS that residents from different villages of Tral and Awantipora assembled on Srinagar-Jammu highway and staged protest against the PDD accusing it of plunging the district into darkness. The protestors later locked down the Awantipora Receiving Station. “PDD has deliberately plunged the district into darkness. The department has resorted to inordinate delay in repairing the damaged transformers. We are facing immense hardships due to erratic power supply,” the protesters said.They accused the PDD authorities of acting as mute spectators. “We many a times approached the concerned PDD authorities for restoration of power but they didn’t take our pleas seriously,” they said.“The unscheduled power cuts have made our lives miserable. If PDD does not restore round the clock power we will be forced to launch an agitation against the department,” they said.Later the protesters dispersed peacefully following assurance to restore the power and undertake repairs of transformers by senior officials of Power Development Department. (CNS)