Electricity being restored in rain-ravaged Kodagu

Mysuru: Many areas of Kodagu were pushed into darkness due to heavy rain and landslides which damaged and disrupted electricity connections.
However, the district is now back to normal as the Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) authorities have taken up massive work to restore the power connections before the commencement of monsoon.

Due to heavy rains with gusty wind and landslides which hit the region last year, thousands of families went homeless as their dwellings in the hilly areas collapsed due landslides. The worst situation people suffered was when the electricity lines were disrupted and they had to live in dark. More than 20 had died while hundreds were disturbed due to the rain havoc.

In order to restore electricity in the region, the CESC authorities took out a massive drive to identify the electricity poles and wires which were damaged due to heavy rain and restored them.

Speaking to TOI, CESC executive engineer (electrical) Somashekar B said the work is almost complete as the staff worked round-the-clock to bring back the district from darkness.

“Last year, rain started in the region by June, but it showered heavily in August which led to landslides. There were electricity poles which were damaged and wires cut, which disrupted electricity in the region. Usually during heavy rains, we have pole and transformer damages as major problems. We have almost completed the work by erecting new poles and replacing the damaged transformers. The electricity wires which were cut were also replaced with new ones,” Somashekar said.

Somashekar said there are 23 sections in Madikeri Division and each section has a junior engineer (JE). “Each section has 18 linemen who work round the clock to attend to the complaints. During monsoon, we hire additional men who are mostly locals to attend to the complaints. We are fully prepared to address any kind of situation during this monsoon,” he said.

CESC managing director H N Gopal Krishna said the restoration work had been taken up on war footing by the CESC authorities at a cost of Rs 5 crore. “The entire work will be completed before monsoon,” he said.

-Box-

Damages

Restored

Electricity poles

3,827

3,827

Electricity Transformers

301

301

Electricity lines (in kilometres)

62.83km

62.83km