Srinagar, Dec 29: Unmindful of the fact that he would have to wake up so early on Saturday morning, Sajad Hussain Tantray of Valtengoo area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district got an unusual call with his superiors directing him to restore the feeder damaged by the heavy snowfall.
Sajad Hussain Tantray, a lineman from the Valtengoo area in Kulgam district, received an urgent call that would lead him into the heart of a snowstorm. His mission: to restore the 11 KV Valtengoo-Kund feeder, damaged by heavy snowfall. Despite waking up to nearly three feet of snow outside his door, Tantray didn’t hesitate to step into the cold.
“I was asked to restore the feeder that had been damaged by fallen tree branches due to the snow. Even though the weather was harsh, I couldn’t ignore the call. My duty comes first,” Tantray said while speaking to Rising Kashmir.
Armed only with a handmade link rod—his most essential tool for cutting the supply during repairs—Tantray trudged through snow- accumulated roads, determined to reach the Valtengoo-Kund area. “We don’t have proper tools like ladders or shockproof gloves,” he said. “But using what I had, I managed to restore the power supply, bringing light to the area by the afternoon.”
Tantray wasn’t the only one working tirelessly in the snow. Javaid Ahmed Wani, a daily wager with the Power Development Department (PDD), faced his own challenge, repairing the Nazneenpora Nad-Razloo feeder in Kulgam. “For us, work is worship,” Wani said. “Although I’m a daily wager, I’ve never shied away from my responsibilities. We started our work early, understanding how crucial it is to restore power, especially during heavy snowfall.”
Wani, like many other linemen, expressed frustration over the lack of proper equipment to ensure his safety while working. “We’re tasked with repairing high-tension wires and transformers without shockproof gloves, ladders, or even link rods,” he said. “We’ve been promised better equipment, but we still haven’t received them. With the right tools, our work would be much safer and more efficient.”
The unexpected snowfall had plunged much of the Kashmir Valley into darkness, with power lines falling due to the weight of the snow. In the face of these challenges, linemen from various districts worked tirelessly throughout the day to restore power. Bashir Ahmed, another lineman from Shampora in Anantnag district, recalled his day’s efforts: “The Wanpoh-Qazigund line was functioning until 3 am, but by then, the snow caused it to snap. I left my home at 7 am and managed to restore the line by 4 pm. It’s incredibly difficult work during a snowstorm.”
Ahmed continued, “We are facing many hardships. Repairing lines in these conditions is a dangerous and exhausting job. Sometimes we are climbing 15- or 20-foot towers with no safety gear—it feels like we’re putting our lives at risk.”
In areas like Pulwama, Budgam, and Srinagar, PDD linemen were up at dawn, braving the cold and snow to restore power, an essential service during the frigid winter months. Despite the challenges, they remained focused on their goal: bringing light back to homes.
A senior PDD official acknowledged the difficulties faced by the linemen and assured that a plan was in place to equip them with proper tools, including shockproof gloves, ladders, and other necessary equipment. “We are aware of the difficulties and are working on providing linemen with better gear to ensure their safety and improve the efficiency of their work,” the official said.
In the face of severe weather conditions, these unsung heroes of Kashmir continue to risk their safety, working relentlessly to ensure that the lights stay on for the people of the valley.
