Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 29: Ahead of the festival of lights, entire Kishtwar district plunged into darkness after two towers of 132 KV transmission line suffered damage near Khelani this morning and power supply is unlikely to be restored immediately. However, electricity supply was restored to the Doda district after nine hours by making alternate arrangements.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that two towers of 132 KV transmission line maintained by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) suffered immense damage near Suigwari area of the Doda district after some trees fell on the line this morning thereby completely snapping the power supply to Doda and Kishtwar districts.
Soon after getting information about the damage to transmission line feeding both the districts, NHPC deputed its engineers to the spot to assess the quantum of damage. During the spot visit, they came to know that some trees had fallen on the line after being allegedly put to fire by some people, sources said.
After hectic efforts, the NHPC engineers restored power supply to Doda district by making some alternate arrangements at Khelani Sub-Station at around 7 pm. However, electricity could not be restored to Kishtwar district.
NHPC’s General Manager for Dul Hasti Power Project, Arvind Bhat, when contacted, said, “since the only 132 KV line ahead of Khelani Sub-Station, which feeds entire Kishtwar district, has suffered damage no alternate arrangement could be made for restoring power supply to Kishtwar district”.
In response to a question, he said, “both the towers are required to be replaced in order to ensure permanent restoration of power supply to Kishtwar district and this exercise will take time”. He, however, said that engineers were deputed at the spot of damage to make some arrangements for temporary restoration of power.
“We have made arrangement of temporary electrification at the spot so that engineers could work throughout the night find via-media”, he said, adding “even if some option is explored Kishtwar district is unlikely to get temporary power supply before October 31 evening”.
According to the reports, the snapping of power supply ahead of Diwali (festival of lights) has led to resentment among the people of Kishtwar district, who have failed to understand how the trees fell on the towers suddenly.
“Besides restoration of power supply, the administration should enquire into the damage to the towers particularly when the reports say that trees fell after being put to fire”, people said.
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