Snow snaps power supply in Kashmir

Power supply remained snapped at majority of areas across the Valley after snowfall damaged transmission and distribution network.
The power breakdown was reported from different areas across the Valley including from Central Kashmir’s Budgam district besides North and South Kashmir.
Power Development Department (PDD) Chief Engineer Bashir Ahmad Khan, said distribution lines have been damaged by snowfall at many places.
He said damages have been caused to 11 KV and Low Tension lines.
“We have pressed our staff into service and they are working hard to restore the supply lines,” he said adding power will be restored in most areas within a day.
Khan said the damage to distribution network affected the power supply in rural parts of Kashmir. “However, essential services were not hit”.
Officials said for the second consecutive day today, power supply remained snapped to over 30 percent areas across the Valley.
According to officials, 33 KV lines that feed receiving stations were snapped at many places in Anantang and Qazigund districts, leading to the power breakdown.
The electricity remained snapped to many areas of Charar-i-Sharief and other parts of the Budgam district.
The power supply was also affected in Kulgam and Shopian districts.
PDD officials said major damage has been caused to Low Tension and High Tension network as the distribution network has not been improved under the Power Development Reform Programme (PDRP).
“In some areas, the wooden poles supply the power to the areas. There was earlier a proposal to replace the bared wires with the PVC insulated cables, but that has not been implemented under the PDRP due to which the damages to power infrastructure was heavy due to snowfall,” said a senior PDD official.
He said the distribution set up could not be strengthened. “The poor distribution system is responsible for frequent power breakdown as well as transmission losses.”