Flex boards snapped power lines during last week’s rain: Residents

HUBBALLI: The residents of the twin cities are worried about flex boards that have been permitted by the HDMC falling down upon them. Several boards allegedly fell during last week’s rains causing power disruption in several areas.
Many areas went without power due to snapped power lines. When Hescom personnel checked the lines, they found that many were broken after flex boards fell on them due to the wind. Many residents have now urged demanded HDMC to take appropriate measures.

A police constable told TOI that on last Monday, he was riding a bike on Clarks Inn Hotel Bridge when a flex board almost fell on him after it broke due to heavy wind. “It was a narrow escape for me. I could have fallen from the bridge” he added.

Civic rights activist Sunil Nalavade says the flex boards have proved to bedangerous in Chanakyapuri, Old Hubballi, Karwar Road, Koul Pet and other places. “Most of areas were in the dark last Monday as flex boards cut Hescom cables and even broke poles,” he added.

“These flex boards should either be banned or installed properly. If they are the cause for any untoward incidents, the contractor concerned should be booked,” he added.

Nivedita B, a resident of Ghodke plot, said there was power fluctuation in her home after a flex board fell on power cables. “Our television was damaged due to it. Neither HDMC nor Hescom compensate such collateral damage,” she rued.

Amruth Joshi, a tourism consultant, said authorities become alert only after untoward incidents. “Because of their negligence, we have to commute fearing about such boards falling on us,” he said.

Hescom blames trees

Hescom Hubballi executive engineer A H Kambale says trees uprooting due to wind was the major reason for power cuts during the recent rains. “But we did not observe specific reasons as restoring power supply was our priority. From now onwards, we will check of falling flex boards cause power cuts and inform the authorities concerned to avert untoward incidents,” he added.