An attempted theft of copper earthing strips from operational power transformers at the 132 KV Shamshabad substation in Vidisha district was thwarted by the courage and alertness of the substation’s outsourced operators, Dhirendra Rathore and Niranjan Vishwakarma, along with security personnel Deepak Paul. Their prompt action prevented a potential disruption to electricity supply in Shamshabad, Berasia, and Sirond areas during the critical Rabi season.
The incident occurred when armed thieves attempted to steal the sensitive copper strips from two operational power transformers at the substation by cutting through the yard fence. Security personnel Deepak Paul, while on patrol, noticed suspicious activity and alerted the on-duty operators. Together, the three tried to apprehend the thieves, who fled the scene under cover of darkness. Their swift response ensured the attempted theft was unsuccessful.
Copper earthing strips play a vital role in the functionality of power transformers, each valued at approximately ?4-5 crore. These strips are designed to channel high currents generated during faults, safeguarding equipment and personnel at the substation. Tampering with or removing these strips can result in severe transformer damage and endanger lives.
Had the theft succeeded, the Madhya Pradesh Power Transmission Company would have faced significant financial losses and prolonged disruptions to electricity supply in the region. Replacing the transformers, which are custom-made to specific norms, could take three to four months, impacting farmers and other consumers during the Rabi season.
Recognizing their bravery and dedication, Managing Director of MP Transco, Engineer Sunil Tiwari, directed that Rathore, Vishwakarma, and Paul be honored. They were rewarded by Superintending Engineer M.P. Patel and Executive Engineer Sanjay Srivastava in a ceremony held at the 132 KV Shamshabad substation, attended by employees from the 220 KV substation Vidisha and the 132 KV substations in Berasia and Runaha.
Their exemplary actions set a commendable standard of duty and vigilance, safeguarding critical infrastructure and ensuring uninterrupted power supply for the region.
