Storm disrupts power supply in west Odisha

Heavy rains accompanied by hailstorm and lightning in many parts of western Odisha led to disruption in power supply in almost all areas in the region since Saturday night.

According to Gridco sources, the power circuit units at Budhipadar and Tarakara were damaged due to heavy lightning and storm at around 10 pm on Saturday night.

The natural disaster also caused damages to two units of the Ib Thermal Plant, the 600-MW unit of Vedanta Power ltd and all the units of the Burla power centre leading to a severe shortage of electricity in the whole of western Odisha.

The 11-KV and 33-KV network systems of the distribution companies were also damaged due to the storm. Even though power generation was restored at Burla and Vedanta after a nightlong hardship, the electricity distribution was hindered due to snapping of towers. It has also led to heavy load situations at the major power generation units, official sources said. However, efforts were on to restore normalcy by evening, the sources added.

"One unit at Budhipadar was damaged first and then another at Tarakara circuit that led to disruption of power supply. The power distribution companies also suffered heavy losses as their 11-KV and 33-KV electric wires were snapped at many places," Gridco Commercial Director PK Pradhan said. The distribution companies have been asked to repair the snapped wires by evening so that the situation is normalised by 8 pm, Pradhan added.