Jammu, Jan 23: The Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL) on Friday said that incessant rainfall and heavy snowfall across several parts of the Jammu Division led to an unprecedented drop in power demand, with the load plunging to as low as 140 megawatts in the early hours of the day.
An official spokesperson of JPDCL as per news agency Kashmir News Corner (KNC) that the power demand dropped to 140 MW around 4:00 am, as against the normal average running load of nearly 1070 MW. However, due to sustained restoration efforts, the running load has been progressively increased to 564 MW, restoring nearly 52 percent of the overall power supply so far.
The spokesperson said that in Jammu district, the power system was severely affected due to heavy rainfall, strong winds and large-scale felling of trees on high-tension and low-tension lines. “Restoration works are in full swing, and field teams have been deployed on priority to attend faults and damages,” he said.
He added that restoration efforts are being hampered due to inaccessibility of snow-bound and rain-affected areas, especially in hilly and remote regions. Major affected areas include Mendhar, Mandi and Surankote in Poonch; Kotranka, Darhal, Thanamandi, Manjakote and Makol in Rajouri; Bani, Lohai-Malhar, Duggan, Baggan and Machedi in Kathua; Bhaderwah and Marmat in Doda; Dhuna, Basantgarh, Pancheri and Patnitop in Udhampur; Dharmari, Sarh Bagga, Mahore and Chassana in Reasi; several areas of Ramban including Patnitop, Nathatop, Sanasar, Batote, Gool, Sangaldan, Ramsoo and Dachan; Paddar, Gulabgarh, Bhalessa and Thathri in Kishtwar; and Sumb, Nud, Rajpura and Purmandal in Samba district.
At the sub-transmission level, the spokesperson said that 92 out of 181 66/33 kV lines have been restored as of noon, reflecting nearly 50 percent restoration. Similarly, at the distribution level, 568 out of 1,373 11 kV feeders have been restored, while restoration works on remaining accessible feeders are being taken up on priority.
JPDCL said that adequate men and machinery have been mobilised to assess damage and ensure early and systematic restoration of power supply across all affected areas. “All possible efforts are being made to normalise electricity supply at the earliest,” the spokesperson added. (KNC)
