Telangana: Power restored; repair efforts continue in flood-affected areas

Only 40 percent of the repair works were completed so far and it was likely to take some more time to finish the entire work.

Hyderabad: Though over three weeks have passed since floods caused heavy damage to power infrastructure in multiple districts, officials of the Northern Power Distribution Company of Telangana Limited (TGNPDCL) are struggling to complete the repair works of transformers, electric poles and other equipment damaged during the heavy rains and floods that lashed the State in the last week of August.

A total of 2,417 electricity poles, 21 dynamic thermal rating structures and 18 substations were damaged following incessant rain and strong winds across the State. According to initial assessment, under the TGNPDCL jurisdiction, 11 electric poles were damaged in Warangal district, 20 in Jangaon, 67 in Mahabubabad, 25 in Bhupalpally, 5 in Khammam, 75 in Kothagudem, 5 in Karimnagar, 8 in Adilabad and 2 in Mancherial district. As many as 9 distribution transformers were damaged in Kothagudem and 1 in Mahabubabad district. A substation in Gudur section in Mahabubabad was submerged due to flood water.

---

Sources say only 40 percent of the repair works were completed so far and it was likely to take some more time to finish the entire work. Although power has been restored in all the areas through alternative arrangements, the repair work was going in slow pace as the water took a lot of time to recede in many districts.

According to officials, severe damages were caused in Mahabubabad district. Due to floods, the company suffered a loss of Rs.5 crore in Mahabubabad district alone, sources said. In about 53 villages in the district, electricity equipment suffered severe damages due to heavy rain. Most of the damage was done in the villages located in Munneru and Akeni river catchment areas.

Around 200 technical staff of the NPDCL, along with another 200 labourers are engaged in the repair works in the Mahabubabad district, the officials informed. The power staff have temporarily stopped installing electric poles in the agricultural fields and power was being supplied through the service wires.

Surprisingly, the Southern Power Distribution Company of Telangana Limited (TGSPDCL) under whose jurisdiction 15 33 kv poles, 1074 11 kv poles, 1038 LT poles and 319 transformers were damaged in the heavy rain, claims that it has repaired all the damaged equipment.

Suryapet district suffered heavy destruction, as more than 1,200 poles and four sub-stations were damaged. In Greater Hyderabad limits, 412 poles and 13 DTR structures were damaged. SPDCL officials claimed that all the damaged electricity equipment had been repaired on a war footing and that there were no power issues in its jurisdictions.