Bike Thieves Steal 168 HRC Fuses Worth Rs 50,400 In Tamil Nadu, Sparking Repeated Power Outage
Chennai, Tamil Nadu: Footage of electric fuse carriers getting stolen in several cities in Tamil Nadu is fueling frustrations among the residents over repeated unscheduled power outages amid high summer demand.
Thieves stole 168 HRC fuses worth Rs 50,400 from Chennai’s Avadi suburb, sparking repeated blackouts in Kamaraj Nagar and nearby areas. Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar shared the footage and noted similar thefts of 150–200 fuses citywide in recent weeks.
“CCTV footage of stealing HRC fuses in various locations which caused repeated power cuts in Kamaraj Nagar, Avadi. Complaint given yesterday by our TNEB AE based on which an FIR has been fille,” the ministry wrote in a social media post, while sharing copies of the complaints.
The police have arrested two prior offenders who sold the copper-rich parts for scrap. Notably, while the opposition parties slam the new TVK government for the alleged mismanagement, the TVK allies have suggested a potential sabotage attempt to tarnish the Vijay-led administration.
“Footage of electric fuse carriers getting stolen . They want to bring down this government at any cost,” an X user, Prashanth Rangaswamy, wrote.
Footage of electric fuse carriers getting stolen .
They want to bring down this government at any cost .
— Prashanth Rangaswamy (@itisprashanth) June 9, 2026
