SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Jammu, Aug 9
Jammu: The city of Jammu faced significant electrical disruptions due to the recent heavy rains, leading to widespread damage to the power infrastructure. Over 70 electric poles have collapsed, and eight transformers have burned out, causing extensive power outages across various parts of the city.
The persistent rainfall has also led to severe waterlogging at the receiving station in Panjthirthi, resulting in a complete shutdown of electricity in that area. Efforts were underway throughout the evening to pump out the accumulated water and restore power. In addition to Panjthirthi, the areas of Gandhi Nagar and Shastri Nagar also experienced power cuts due to the failure of several transformers.
Other affected areas include Shastri Nagar, Narwal, Bathindi, Sainik Colony, Sujanpur, and Siddhra. The eight transformers in these regions suffered extensive damage due to the waterlogging and power surges. Efforts to repair and replace these transformers were ongoing despite the challenging weather conditions.
The situation at the Panjthirthi receiving station worsened as rainwater continued to flood the facility, forcing authorities to shut down the power supply completely. The waterlogging was so severe that machinery was submerged, complicating the restoration efforts. Teams worked tirelessly throughout the day to mitigate the damage and expedite the recovery process.
Meanwhile, in the areas of Ware House, Mishriwala, Old City, Nagrota, Janipur, and Akhnoor, the situation was similarly dire, with numerous electric poles being uprooted. This has led to power outages and significant inconvenience to the residents. The continuous rainfall has hampered repair efforts, but work persisted to replace the fallen poles and restore normalcy.
Ex-Enforcement Officer Anil Gupta mentioned that the heavy rains had posed unprecedented challenges to the city’s power infrastructure. He assured that teams were working round the clock to repair the damage and restore power as quickly as possible. However, he cautioned that complete restoration might take some time given the extent of the damage.
Residents have expressed their frustration over the prolonged power cuts and the delay in restoration efforts. Many have called for more robust infrastructure and better preparedness to handle such weather-related emergencies in the future. The local authorities have been urged to expedite the repair work and ensure that similar disruptions are minimized going forward.
As the city continues to battle the aftermath of the heavy rains, efforts remain focused on restoring power and repairing the damaged infrastructure to bring back normalcy to the affected areas.
