Morinda, Chamkaur Sahib sans power as storm uproots 250 poles

Tribune News Service

Ropar, May 30

Thousands of residents of Morinda, Chamkaur Sahib and surrounding villages had to spend sleepless night after power supply was disrupted during a storm late Saturday night.

The supply could not be restored till evening in a majority of the areas as a large number of electricity poles had been uprooted. The authorities said several villages could remain without electricity till tomorrow.

In the Morinda area, power supply was snapped to 42 villages, including Ratangarh, Badwali, Rangian, Mundian, Bhangian, Dhollar Majra, Datarpur and Marrauli.

In Chamkaur Sahib, the storm not only disrupted electricity supply to dozens of villages, but also damaged several huts near the grain market, Sandhuan road and Sallo Majra road. However, no loss of life was reported.

According to Superintending Engineer Satwinder Singh Sehmbi nearly 250 electricity poles were damaged in the region, including Anandpur Sahib, Ropar, Morinda, Chamkaur Sahib, Kurali, Kharar and Samrala.

In addition, 35 transformers were knocked down and six 66-kV power supply towers were uprooted near Morinda town, he said.

Till the filing of the report, the power supply had been restored in Chamkaur Sahib and some parts of Morinda town.

Sehmbi said all teams of his department were working to ensure supply to all parts of Morinda and Chamkaur Sahib as early as possible. Efforts were also being made to restore supply to a majority of villages, he said.

“Several villages, such as Rangian and Datarpur near Morinda, will not be able to receive electricity till tomorrow as the power lines here have been badly damaged,” Sehmbi added.