PUNE: The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) on Monday temporarily suspended power supply to several parts of Pune district after heavy rainfall and flooding inundated electrical infrastructure, stating that the move was necessary to prevent electrocution and ensure public safety.
According to the MSEDCL, waterlogging at substations and switching stations and inundation of distribution equipment affected electricity supply to several areas even as restoration work is being carried out on a war footing. The public utility said that power supply will be restored once floodwaters recede and electrical installations are declared safe.
Rajgurunagar was the worst-affected division, where power supply to 569 transformers was disconnected as a precautionary measure. Of these, 339 transformers were affected after two feeders in Chakan city were shut down. However, the MSEDCL managed to restore power through both the feeders. Power supply to five transformers in the Rajgurunagar subdivision, 101 at the Chakan Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), 39 in Vadgaon Maval, 68 in Lonavala, and 18 in Talegaon remained suspended due to safety concerns.
The MSEDCL also temporarily switched off the 33 kV Hyundai, 33 kV Corning and 22 kV Ambethan feeders from 11.40 am at the request of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) which was carrying out a rescue operation for people trapped inside a building near Ambethan village.
{{/usCountry}}The MSEDCL also temporarily switched off the 33 kV Hyundai, 33 kV Corning and 22 kV Ambethan feeders from 11.40 am at the request of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) which was carrying out a rescue operation for people trapped inside a building near Ambethan village.
{{/usCountry}}In the Bhosari division, the 22 kV Dehugaon feeder was shut down after floodwaters entered residential societies in Dehu village. Water also entered the FA switching station, sector 24 switching station, and EWS switching station, prompting the MSEDCL to suspend power supply from these facilities after water levels reached critical electrical equipment.
In the Nagar Road division, one transformer in the Indiranagar area under the Vishrantwadi section was switched off after waterlogging; while three transformers supplying Shantinagar and Chavan Chawl were shut down after floodwaters entered the localities.
The Pimpri division also witnessed disruption after the ring main unit (RMU) of the 22 kV MHADA feeder was submerged, affecting power supply from the Ghanshyam switching station. Water also entered the RMUs of the 22 kV BA feeder and 22 kV Aksharland feeder near Bhondve corner. The MSEDCL restored supply to the 22/11 kV BA substation through the 22 kV Punawale feeder, while efforts are underway to provide alternate supply to the 22/11 kV Aksharland substation through the 22 kV Tathawade feeder. Additionally, the 22 kV Empire phase 1 feeder was manually tripped after water entered the panel room of Empire Society at around 1.30 pm.
“Power supply has been temporarily suspended in flood-affected areas purely as a precautionary measure to safeguard citizens and prevent electrical accidents. Our field teams are continuously monitoring the situation and restoring supply immediately after water recedes and all installations are certified safe. We appeal to residents not to touch electric poles, transformers, cables or any electrical equipment submerged in water and to cooperate with the MSEDCL personnel during restoration work,” said Vikas Puri, MSEDCL public relations officer.