Malappuram, Kerala: When the lights suddenly go out in Kerala homes, the first question many people ask is simple: Is it only my house, or has the whole neighbourhood lost power?

That everyday moment of confusion has now inspired a digital solution. A 27-year-old IT and marketing professional from Thrissur has launched a new website designed to help residents instantly check whether a power cut is local or affecting a wider area.

Alkesh Das has developed currentundo.com, a lightweight crowdsourced web platform that tracks reported power outages across all 14 districts of Kerala.

Sharing the project on LinkedIn, Alkesh wrote, “Currentundo?" - Probably the most asked question in Kerala. Instead of looking at the neighbour's house or asking the local WhatsApp group every time the power cuts, I put together a simple crowdsourced tracker to see if the grid is actually down in your area. Just a small utility project where you can:

Report a power outage with one tap.

Check live KSEB outage status across your district.”

How the Kerala power cut tracker works

The website allows users to report outages in around two seconds using GPS location or by entering their pin code. It then displays live dashboards showing spikes in outage reports from different parts of the state.

The aim is to help users quickly understand whether the issue is limited to their home or street, or linked to a larger disruption involving the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB).

Launched on April 26, the platform has already begun attracting users, with its simple design and instant usability helping it gain attention online.

The website is free to use and does not require any app download, login or personal details.

This is not Alkesh Das’s first public utility initiative. During the Wayanad landslide relief efforts, he created status.cmdrf.in, a donation tracker that gave real-time updates on contributions to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund.

Why the website matters now

The launch comes at a time when Kerala is witnessing an unprecedented rise in electricity demand and growing frustration over repeated power disruptions.

The Kerala State Electricity Board has moved to formalise short-duration power restrictions of 15 to 30 minutes in select areas, especially during peak evening hours between 6 pm and 11 pm. Consumers are expected to receive prior SMS alerts wherever possible.

The move follows complaints over frequent unannounced nighttime outages across parts of the state.

Kerala records historic power demand

On April 18, Kerala recorded its highest-ever daily electricity consumption at 117.16 million units.

Peak demand between 6 pm and 10 pm touched 6,033 MW, while on April 23, demand briefly surged to 6,195 MW at 10.30 pm, the highest level ever recorded.

To manage the shortfall, the state has been permitted to procure 250 MW from the power exchange through short-term contracts at rates of up to Rs 10 per unit.