Power disruption in 150 villages

Saturday evening’s heavy storm followed by rainfall and hailstorm caused damage amounting to more than Rs 6.5 crore to Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL) in which the maximum loss is in the Western zone,including Ferozepur,Bhatinda,Muktsar and Moga districts. The major damage has been reported between Moga and Botianwala in Ferozeopur where a 220 kv line has broken,damaging six huge towers and a number of 66 kv and 11 kv lines. This has resulted in disruption of power supply to more than 150 villages. PSPCL member distribution Arun Verma said,“We have shifted the load of these villages to other lines. The damaged line and towers will take minimum 10-12 days to be repaired completely. Till then the consumers have to bear with us. More than 400 poles have fallen while hundreds of transformers have also been damaged. Our 30 66kv sub-stations were shut down following the storm,out of which 24 are operational now and the rest still have to be restored.” More than 500 trees have also been uprooted.