Power yet to be restored in Gudalur, Pandalur

Udhagamandalam: For the fifth consecutive day on Sunday, Gudalur and Pandalur taluks besides several villages in Kundha taluk and a few areas in Ooty remained in dark without power.

As many as 320 electric posts and a half dozen of transformers were damaged across the district owing to the strong wind and rain that lashed the hills in the past week.

On Sunday, the hill district recorded an average rainfall of 25.77mm ending 24 hours at 7am. While Deval received the highest of 102mm of rainfall, Gudalur and Pandalur recorded 30mm and 40mm respectively. Ooty and Coonoor registered 29mm and 24mm respectively.

However, there is a lull in rain in Ooty, Kundha, Gudalur and Pandalur taluks on Sunday. But Coonoor and surrounding areas continued to experience rain since Saturday evening. According to reports, besides damage to the Dolphin’s Nose road, a tree was uprooted near Vandisolai near Coonoor due to the rain. Frequent power interruption was also reported in Coonoor and its surroundings.

Ramesh Kumar, divisional engineer (general), TANGEDCO said, “A 25KV transformer and a 66KV tower were totally damaged in Gudalur and Pandalur taluks. Specialists have been brought from Mettur to fix the transformers and conductor.” He said, “A transmission conductor to a length of 8km was also damaged. All these damages occurred because several trees were uprooted there.”

According to the divisional engineer, the fallen trees needed to be cut and removed. Only then the fixing work of the lines could be started. Major works are over. Power would be restored in Pandalur and Gudalur taluks by Sunday evening.

“As far as the Missionary Hill area in Ooty is concerned, three damaged poles were replaced after removing the fallen trees. The LT line was restored. Power would be supplied by today evening”, Ramesh Kumar said.

However, the Doddabetta area will be attended on Monday to restore power.

Most of the damaged HT lines across the district were repaired. The damaged LT lines in suburbs and village areas will be attended on a day to day basis.

As many as 310 TNEB personnel, including 60 specialists from Mettur and 140 from Coimbatore and Mettupalayam, are deployed for power restoration work.

The recent rain and wind damaged 320 electric posts, seven transformers, two towers and transmission conductor running to 40km in the district.