Citizens fume as MSEDCL struggles to restore power in Pune

PUNE: The power supply disruptions continued in several parts of Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad and Pune rural as the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) struggled to repair snapped supply lines, damaged underground cables and reinstall 1,440 electric poles uprooted by strong wind because of cyclone Nisarga on Wednesday.
“We are hoping to restore supply to all the affected areas by tonight (Thursday night) as our employees have been working round the clock since Wednesday. But the persisting strong wind is posing a challenge,” said an MSEDCL official.
Power supply to some parts of the NIBM Road area, Ambegaon, Sahakarnagar, Market Yard, Janata Vasahat, Baner, Yevalewadi, Hadapsar, Vimannagar and Vishrantwadi was expected to be restored late on Thursday night. Repairs were on to restore power supply to 47 transformers, said an MSEDCL statement.
As many as 45 electric poles were uprooted in the Pune municipal limits, while over 100 power supply cables snapped after trees and branches fell on them. As many as 45 electric poles and four transformers collapsed in Pimpri Chinchwad and Bhosari. Water seeping into feeder pillars and underground cables made the matters worse.
As many as 1,330 electric poles were uprooted in Maval, Khed, Junnar and Ambegaon. The damage to power infrastructure is pegged at Rs20 crore, affecting 5.57 lakh consumers in 794 villages.
Residents in the city struggled to cope with the prolonged power failure. “We are suffering from frequent power cuts for two days. The power went off around 2am on June 3. The electricity came back in the evening and then went off for quite some time. Even on Thursday, we had a power cut,” said Hitesh Kamchandani, a resident of Prithvi Park.
“Water cannot be pumped up to the tank because there is no electricity. Our generators have stopped working. I got a text from the MSEDCL informing me that the power would come back by noon, but it was 3pm when the supply was restored,” said Debashmita Paul, a resident of an independent building in the NIBM Road area.
Wagholi resident Yogesh Patil said the power went off on Wednesday afternoon. “We need to be prepared better. The MSEDCL staffers have been working hard to fix the issue in Wagholi. I think it’s time the utility increased its staff strength and upgraded infrastructure in areas like Wagholi. These power cuts can’t go on like this,” he said.
Pushpal Talukdar from Kondhwa said many residents were unable to get in touch with the MSEDCL during the power failure. “The helplines were either engaged or not being answered,” said Talukdar.