Snapped cables leave half of state powerless

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 4

Around half of Himachal, especially villages in the higher reaches, remained without electricity after overhead transmission lines suffered extensive damage following heavy snow in the region since Sunday.

The areas affected include Chopal, Rohru, parts of Jubbal-Kotkhai and Rampur, inner and outer Seraj and the tribal belt of Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti.

The damage to transmission lines and substations has exposed lack of staff, snow kits and other equipment to work in the freezing conditions in snowbound areas.

Pridip Banchat, former vice-pradhan, gram panchayat, Dewat, Chopal, said there was no backup plan in place to restore power supply in time in snow-affected areas.

Linemen of the state electricity board said over 70 spans of transmission lines had suffered damage following heavy snowfall in Khirki and Chharki areas.

“We cannot call or consult a doctor and even relatives to seek help to meet medical emergency since there is no electricity for the past four days. Mobile or landlines phones are also not working,” said Nika Ram Dharela of Khagna.

Heavy snow has snapped the main transmission line to Rohru in snow-bound Sungri where uprooted trees fell on the cable, said power engineers.

Though the HPSEBL claims it has restored power to Jubbal and Kotkhai, villagers further away said there was no electricity since Sunday.

In Chopal, Rohru and Jubbal-Kotkhai, villagers have been assisting linemen in restoring power lines, said a local resident.

Several areas of Barshaini, Tirhan valley and inner and outer Seraj in Kullu Seraj, Chatri and Janjhlei in Mandi, Chota Bhanghal, Bara Bhanghal in Kangra and parts of Bharmour also remained without power.

The snapping of the road link with the state capital has compounded the problem in Kharha Pathar, Baghi, Khadrala, Tikkar, Deorighat, Sungri, Khirki-Chambi-Chharki areas. It will take a week to restore the road link.

HPSEBL Managing Director PC Negi said the power would be restored up to Reckong Peo, district headquarters of Kinnaur; Keylong, district headquarters of the Lahauli-Spiti; and Killar, sub-divisional headquaters of Pangi, by this evening.

Efforts were also on to restore power to Rohru by evening and Chopal by tomorrow where snow had damaged lines and sub-station structures extensively, Negi said.