Since the early hours of Monday, 30th July 2012, India suffered two massive grid failures that snapped power supply in over 19 states, bringing lives of more than 600 million people to a standstill and the economy to a grinding halt. Unfortunately, there was nothing sudden or accidental about this event; it was a crisis waiting to happen. Interconnected regional grid is an efficient and effective way of optimising generation resources and demand requirements. However, like any other complex system, ensuring smooth operation of the grid requires collaboration based on clear set of rules and a competent managing agency whose authority and autonomy should be respected by all constituents. This article published in the Economic times on 5th August 2012 highlights the collapse as a grim reminder for ensuring collaboration and discipline by all constituents and need for real autonomy and authority of the monitoring agencies.