Heavy Rain Disrupts Power Supply in North Andhra Pradesh; EPDCL Intensifies Restoration Efforts

Severe rainfall and strong winds have caused significant disruptions across north coastal Andhra Pradesh, affecting power infrastructure and leading to widespread outages. The Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (EPDCL) has mobilized extensive resources to restore electricity services in the impacted areas.

Extent of the Damage

The heavy rains and gales, resulting from a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal, led to the collapse of mud walls, electrocution incidents, and extensive damage to power infrastructure. Four fatalities were reported, including an elderly couple in Srikakulam and a man in Parvathipuram Manyam. Additionally, a tea stall worker in Visakhapatnam succumbed to electrocution after a live wire fell. The intense weather also caused uprooted trees, snapped electric poles, and damaged crops, with rivers like Vamsadhara and Nagavali swelling due to the rains. Palasa recorded the highest rainfall at 17 cm in 24 hours.

EPDCL’s Restoration Operations

In response to the widespread power outages, EPDCL has initiated extensive restoration operations across six districts: Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, Parvathipuram Manyam, Anakapalli, and ASR Paderu. The damage to power infrastructure is estimated at approximately ₹1.78 crore, with specific damages in various districts, including ₹91.64 lakh in Srikakulam and ₹36.33 lakh in Vizianagaram.

A dedicated team of 1,700 personnel, organized into 170 batches, is working tirelessly to restore broken power poles, snapped wires, and damaged transformers. As of the latest updates, power has been restored in 297 out of 314 villages, and significant progress has been made in reinstating service connections and feeders. Despite the challenges posed by the holiday on Thursday, officials and staff worked collectively to restore supply to all 33/11 kV substations by Thursday night.

Safety Precautions and Public Advisory

EPDCL has advised consumers to exercise caution around snapped power wires, fallen poles, and damaged transformers due to the impact of the rains. For information related to power outages, consumers can contact the toll-free number 1912 or the control room phone numbers specific to their districts.

Conclusion

The severe weather conditions have posed significant challenges to power infrastructure in north coastal Andhra Pradesh. EPDCL’s swift and coordinated efforts in restoration operations are commendable. Continued vigilance and adherence to safety advisories are essential to ensure the well-being of residents as recovery operations progress.