Glitch in India Power Prepaid Recharge System Exposes Vulnerabilities in Digital Infrastructure

Kolkata, August 16, 2025 – In a concerning development just one day after India's Independence Day celebrations, users of India Power's prepaid electricity recharge service reported significant disruptions when attempting transactions via Billdesk. According to eyewitness accounts and shared screenshots, a payment of ₹500 was successfully processed and deducted from a user's bank account, but the system failed to generate the essential topup code instantly, leaving consumers in limbo. The transaction ID BPHWIZKOTF83R7 was displayed, yet no code appeared, with the service appearing partially hung up and unable to refund the amount immediately.
In contrast, a subsequent attempt using Razorpay for a ₹200 recharge was seamless, generating the topup code (30924329071868705851) without delay. An accompanying bank SMS from Federal Bank confirmed a debit of ₹202.36 via UPI on the same day, likely including transaction fees. Both transactions targeted the same consumer number (6101097) and meter number (LIR20579), underscoring the inconsistency between payment gateways.
This incident highlights the fragility of India's digital payment ecosystem, particularly for essential services like electricity. As the nation pushes forward with the Digital Bharat initiative under the Advanced India program, such glitches raise alarms about online transaction stability and money security. Experts argue that without investing in upgraded, internationally accepted smart servers and machinery, reliable digital services will remain elusive, potentially eroding public trust in cashless systems.
Consumers are advised to exercise caution with prepaid recharges during peak times and report issues promptly. India Power has yet to issue an official statement on the outage.
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By TAPENDRA