VIJAYAWADA: Electricity was restored to nearly 29 lakh consumers across 5,753 villages in Andhra Pradesh following extensive damage to the state's power infrastructure caused by Cyclone Murasu, officials said.
The cyclone made landfall near Kothapatnam on November 3, damaging power infrastructure across Bapatla, Prakasam, Palnadu, Guntur, NTR and Krishna districts. Electricity personnel worked alongside National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams to restore the network amid flooding and difficult weather conditions.
In the Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) zone, 1,001 specialised teams comprising 11,537 personnel restored electricity to all 552 affected substations and 5,753 villages, benefiting nearly 29 lakh consumers.
In the Andhra Pradesh Central Power Distribution Company Limited (APCPDCL) zone, more than 230 specialised teams brought restoration work to its final stages in flood-affected mandals. They restored power to more than three lakh domestic and commercial connections.
Special Chief Secretary (Energy) K Vijayanand praised the power utility personnel for working round the clock in adverse conditions. He said their priority from the beginning of the disaster had been the safety and well-being of citizens.
On Thursday, Vijayanand visited the State Load Dispatch Centre (APSLDC) at Vidyut Soudha and reviewed the situation with APTRANSCO Joint Managing Director Surya Sai Praveen Chand, APCPDCL CMD P Pulla Reddy and Director (Grid) AKV Bhaskar.
He said the power infrastructure had suffered extensive damage, particularly in Prakasam and Bapatla districts, but teams worked continuously to restore electricity to households, farmers and businesses.
The cyclone also damaged Extra High Tension (EHT) transmission lines. A 220 kV terminal tower collapsed in Bapatla, bringing down lines along the 132 kV Parchuru-Chirala corridor.
Technical teams worked through strong flood currents to clear the obstruction and restore the power supply. At the 400/220/132 kV Guddigudem substation, floodwater breached the compound wall. Engineers used motor pumps to drain the water, carried out technical inspections and safely restored the 400 kV lines, 220 kV bus and ICTs.