UHBVN staff on toes to restore power supply in Karnal district
Employees of the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) along with contractors, remained on their toes throughout Wednesday night and Thursday to restore power by repairing faults in supply lines and erecting electric poles, which were either uprooted or damaged due to thunderstorm accompanied by high-velocity winds.
While thunderstorm and rainfall brought much-needed relief from the scorching heat, it also increased challenges for employees of the power department. It caused widespread damage in the district.
Electric poles and transformers were uprooted or damaged in several areas, plunging villages and towns into darkness. As per data of the UHBVN, as many as 421 poles and 130 transformers were uprooted or damaged, leading to an estimated loss of around Rs 1.25 crore. The worst-hit areas included Gharaunda, Nissing, Assandh and Karnal blocks.
Several trees were also uprooted, blocking roads and causing traffic disruptions for hours. Field workers were seen working tirelessly in villages to replace poles, repair snapped power lines and reinstall damaged transformers.
Kismat Singh, SDO, Nissing, said, “Our area was badly affected by thunderstorm. We immediately pressed our teams into service. By Thursday evening, power supply to all rural and urban domestic consumers was restored. Supply to 80 agricultural feeders will be restored in a couple of days.” Naseeb Singh, Superintending Engineer, UHBVN, Karnal circle, said, “Our teams worked overnight and throughout Thursday to restore supply. The priority was to replace broken poles and reinstall uprooted transformers and poles. Power has been restored in majority of the affected areas.”
Local residents expressed both relief and appreciation for the swift restoration efforts of the UHBVN. Sukhwinder Singh, a resident of Nissing, said the storm was terrifying. Power was disrupted immediately, but thanks to employees of the UHBVN who worked tirelessly to restore the supply, he said. Naresh, a resident of Gonder village, said, “We had no electricity since midnight. It was difficult with children and the elderly at home, but we appreciate efforts of UHBVN staff who worked non-stop to restore power supply.”
