Srinagar, Feb 20: Heavy snowfall on Tuesday disrupted normal life in Kashmir for the second consecutive day. Efforts by the government are underway to restore electricity and clear snow from the roads.
The Kashmir valley received heavy snowfall on Tuesday, leading to the closure of roads and damage to electricity infrastructure. Officials stated that men and machinery had been mobilized since morning to clear roads and restore electricity.
“Due to continuous heavy snowfall, roads were getting blocked again. To provide hassle-free movement to people, machines were deployed in every district zone to clear the snow from the roads, officials said.
The heavy snowfall for a second consecutive day caused major damage to a power supply in the Kashmir valley, with around 81 feeders down till late evening on Tuesday. Officials stated that these feeders would decrease as their personnel are on the job, and they are making progress in restoring them.
An official from the KPDCL told Rising Kashmir that every subdivision was put on high alert before the snowfall, and they have successfully restored power supply in most parts. Their personnel are still working to restore power in the remaining affected areas.
Thirty-three 33 kV feeders out of 120 are presently experiencing faults, while 76 out of 1118 HT 11 kV feeders are down, due to heavy snowfall in parts of Electric Divisions Handwara, Baramulla, and Kupwara, where damage to power infrastructure has also been reported, KPDCL said.
“Five 33 kV feeders under fault have been reported from North Kashmir districts of Kupwara and Baramulla. Efforts are on to restore the feeders under fault, but the same would require road connectivity, especially in those districts where upper reaches have been cut off due to snow,” he said, urging consumers residing in these areas to exercise patience.
During the restoration process, one of their workers suffered critical injuries while repairing the wire. The injured employee has been identified as Mohammad Abdullah Mir and was injured in the Beerwah area of Budgam. He is being treated at a hospital in Srinagar.
To review the power supply in the Kashmir valley, Managing Director Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited Mussarat Islam also visited the Bemina grid station to review the power scenario in the valley. The officer has directed the staff to restore electricity in affected areas at the earliest.
Meanwhile, a senior government official told Rising Kashmir that efforts are underway to clear the roads and restore electricity.
KPDCL gears up amid heavy snowfall
115 out of 120 (33 kV) feeders up; 76 out of 1118 HT 11 kV feeders down
SEs, EEs directed to ensure safety of KPDCL workers during restoration work
In the wake of heavy snowfall across Kashmir valley, the Managing Director, Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL), Mussarat Islam, today said that KPDCLs frontline workers are fully geared up in post-snow restoration works, even as heavy snow has caused disruptions especially in North Kashmir districts and some parts of South Kashmir.
In a statement released by KJPDCL today afternoon, the MD said five 33 kV feeders out of 120 are presently under fault, while 76 out of 1118 HT 11 kV feeders are down, in view of heavy snowfall in parts of Electric Divisions Handwara, Baramulla & Kupwara, where damage to power infrastructure due to heavy snowfall has also been reported.
“Five 33 kV feeders under fault have been reported from North Kashmir districts of Kupwara and Baramulla. Efforts are on to restore the feeders under fault, but the same would require road connectivity especially in those districts where upper reaches have been cut off due to snow,”MD KPDCL said, urging consumers residing in these areas to exercise patience.
The statement added that 33 kV Gurez line has been charged partially while 33 kV tap lines Keran, Machhil and Tangdar are under fault. Similarly, 33 kV Wanpoh-Qazigund line is also charged partially.
In 11 kV category, 39 out of the 76 feeders are under fault in Baramulla and Kupwara Districts, while as 12 in Budgam, 08 in Shopian-Pulwama. 05 feeders each are under fault in Srinagar and Anantnag-Pulwama districts, the statement added.
He further stated that all feeders in capital city Srinagar are operational, along with majority of the 11 kV feeders in other districts like Ganderbal, Anantnag, Pulwama, Budgam and Shopian.
MD KPDCL also directed SEs of O&M Circles and Executive Engineers of all Electric & STD Divisions to personally monitor restoration measures following heavy snowfall. He also emphasized upon the Subdivisional Officers to ensure that the field workers take all safety measures by using safety gadgets (PPE) like helmets, gloves, harness belts, and using earthing roads while restoring power supply.
Presently, all Executive Engineers of Sub Transmission Division in Srinagar, Ganderbal, Sopore, Bijbehara are monitoring the status of Receiving Stations across Kashmir Division, the statement added.
MD urged the consumers to follow KPDCL’s official media handles to get regular updates about restoration works currently underway. He said the figures will be updated in the evening and shared on its official social media platforms.
