Power theft linked to organizing night cricket matches on major roads and busy intersections across Hyderabad has increased sharply during Ramadan, raising concerns among residents while the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) struggles to stop the illegal activity.
Residents say that despite the holy month, HESCO has been unable to reduce load shedding. Scheduled and unscheduled power outages continue throughout the day, along with electricity suspensions often attributed to technical faults. At the same time, the company appears unable to prevent open electricity theft across the city.
In several parts of Hyderabad, including Latifabad and Qasimabad, night cricket matches are being played until Sehri under powerful floodlights that are illegally connected to main electricity poles. Local residents, civic groups, and media outlets report that such incidents occur every year during Ramadan.
Although HESCO occasionally conducts limited operations, confiscating wires and floodlights in a few areas, the practice usually resumes soon afterward.
Residents fear that the cost of this electricity theft will eventually be passed on to law-abiding consumers through inflated electricity bills and additional charges related to line losses.
Some consumers also claim that sub-division officials issue detection bills to selected users who are not part of any “arrangement,” forcing them to repeatedly visit HESCO offices to correct the charges despite their modest electricity usage.
Reports also indicate that some feeders declared “load-shedding free” still experience outages, particularly during the morning hours.
In addition to power theft, the night cricket matches are also causing traffic disruptions on major roads and intersections. Residents say large gatherings of players and spectators block roads, while loud cheering and commentary continue late into the night, disturbing nearby neighborhoods.
Citizens have criticized both HESCO and district authorities saying no significant action has been taken against the many openly organized night cricket events powered by illegal connections.
Meanwhile, some of the young players involved in the matches say that not all games rely on stolen electricity, though they acknowledge that it may happen at certain locations. They argue that Ramadan naturally brings increased nighttime activity, as many people stay awake until late and sleep after Sehri and Fajr prayers.
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