(LinkAsia: August 3, 2012)
Yul Kwon:
In India, two massive blackouts left 600 million people – half of India’s population and about twice the number of people in the United States – without power for two consecutive days. And as Japanese broadcaster NHK reports, the government is being blamed.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: July 31, 2012

Rumio Sugaya, NHK World Reporter:
Indian power grids collapsed suddenly on Tuesday afternoon. Total 20 states and union territories in the north and east of the countries are affected. Rail and subway services ground to a halt, causing chaos as travelers tried to continue their journeys by bus. Concerns are mounting about patients in hospitals that don’t have generators. Minister of Power Sushil Kumar Shinde says the authorities are likely to restart idled hydropower stations as a solution. India faces a chronic power deficit. The nation’s infrastructure can’t keep up with rising demand. This week’s failures are said to be the worst in a decade.

Subway Passenger:
This is the failure of government policy, properly. Because they have no any second measurable solution that if anyone, if suddenly this problem will come to pass, what will be the quick solution for this.

Rumio Sugaya, NHK World Reporter:
The massive blackouts have exposed the venerability of India’s power grid. Voices questioning the responsibility of the government seem likely to grow.