Gang steals transformer, cuts power toover 300 homes in Lucknow’s Chinhat

Lucknow: A daring theft in the early hours of Thursday left over 300 households in darkness after a 440 kVA transformer was stolen from a residential area located on the outskirts of Lucknow. The transformer, valued at Rs 11 lakh, was targeted by a gang of thieves who removed its expensive copper binding before fleeing the spot. The incident happened in Rai Enclave in Shivpuri, which is part of Chinhat substation in the Gomti Nagar zone of Lucknow.
Chinhat sub-divisional officer A K Singh told TOI that the thieves dismantled the transformer and took its copper coil, a component highly sought after in the scrap market. The copper coil is worth around Rs 9.5 lakh. Singh added that insufficient police patrolling in the locality contributed to the incident. The CCTV footage from the vicinity captured a group of men arriving in a Swift Dzire and swiftly stripping the transformer of its copper winding. The theft came to light around 4.30 am when residents reported a sudden power outage to the Shivpuri powerhouse. A team of electricians was immediately dispatched, only to find the transformer dismantled, lying open on the ground with its key components missing. Following the discovery, the power department filed a written complaint with Chinhat police, to lodge an FIR against unidentified thieves. Meanwhile, to provide relief to the affected families, the SDO's team restored power by installing a trolley-mounted 400 kVA transformer. Police are examining the CCTV footage to identify the accused.