In photos: Power outages, trees uprooted across Tricity after rain, high-velocity winds

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 30

Several parts of Tricity reported power outages, no water supply, damaged cars, uprooted trees and electricity poles after rain and thunderstorm lashed the area on Saturday night.

In several parts of the city, the electricity supply could not be restored till Sunday morning.

Also read: https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/storm-rain-batter-punjab-as-power-outages-reported-from-several-districts-260695

Several electricity poles and trees were damaged. Residents complained that the power supply helpline number did not respond.

Several of them had a sleepless night. Some areas, including Sectors 38, 40, 41 and others did not get proper water supply in the morning.

“No electricity and no water supply in 38 A and B. All electricity complaints numbers are busy. We don’t know what to do,” said resident Joginder Singh.

Tarsem Sharma, president, MIG duplex welfare association, said in Sector 40-B, “Trees branches are there all over roads. Neither water is there nor power.”

In sectors 20 and 38, several trees fell on the road. One of the cars in Sector 38 was seriously damaged. There were reports of cars getting damaged from other sectors of the city also.

“As the damage is too much and it’s a Sunday so an extra task force should be engaged so that a rescue operation is done in full swing. Sectors 38 West, 38 and 37—everywhere trees have fallen. Thankfully, there is no loss of life,” said a resident.

Residents continued to make calls in the wee hours on Sunday but got a poor response from the helpline numbers.

“What is the use of electricity department’s centralised number when it will not solve the purpose. It seems just a burden on the government,” lamented another resident Umesh Gupta.

Sector 46-A resident Raj Kumar Goyal said, “While there was no electricity, the electricity complaint number remained busy. Children are crying.”

At some places, dead birds were also seen.

Meanwhile, 30mm rain was reported last night. Light rain is expected on Monday and Tuesday as well, as per the weather department.

Zirakpur residents had to endure a hot Sunday afternoon as power poles were damaged and trees uprooted in the storm that wrecked the Tricity on Saturday night.

Many parts of Zirakpur, Baltana, Kishanpura, Panchsheel area, were powerless till noon Sunday. There was largescale destruction as hoardings and temporary structures were blown away by high-intensity winds.

PSPCL Executive Engineer Khushwinder Singh said, ”Close to 30 power poles have been uprooted in Zirakpur area. The exact damage would be assessed later on. There are 40 feeders in the Zirakpur area. All have been made functional now. The PSPCL employees are now attending individual complaints in different areas.”

In Dhakoli alone, nine power poles were uprooted. The uprooted trees and power lines obstructed the movement of vehicles on the road.

PSPCL junior engineer Sarabjot Singh said, ”Trees alongside the road fell on power lines, leading to disruption. We are re-routing the power distribution and the supply would be restored in the afternoon. By evening, all the roads would be cleared of power poles.”

Dera Bassi residents had to spend the night without electricity but power was restored in the morning.