Thunderstorm, lightning strikes damage power infra in Ranchi

Ranchi: A week of intermittent thunderstorms, lightning strikes and gusty winds has damaged power infrastructure in Ranchi district. Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (JBVNL) is working on a war footing to restore normalcy after inclement weather affected local grids, officials said on Monday.Manmohan Kumar, general manager of the JBVNL Ranchi Supply Area Board, told TOI, "Since rain and thunderstorm started on April 28, over 100 poles and more than 50 transformers have been damaged across the district and we have been working continuously to repair or replace them." According to officials, over 100 electricity poles have been damaged by winds, while many wires were broken due to trees and branches falling on them. Also, more than 50 transformers have been damaged due to lightning strikes or internal short-circuit caused by falling trees and debris. Repair crews have been deployed across the district, though intermittent rain and the threat of further lightning continue to hamper safety and progress. Kumar said, "We are repairing the damaged infrastructure immediately as we get complaints. Also, we are continuously pruning branches around areas where we have wires, poles and transformers to minimise the wind damage." The damages are leading to power cuts across the city for long duration, with citizens questioning the infrastructure quality. "The moment heavy rain starts, power is disrupted. Every year we are promised that there would be less power cuts but this has been a regular feature for decades," said Mayank Singh, a local businessman. Aarti Srivastava, a homemaker, said, "Be it cooking or cleaning, nowadays most of the household chores are reliant on electrical devices. In such a situation, if there are long power cuts, it becomes really difficult to get the work done." Kumar pointed out that power cuts are necessary to ensure accidents don't take place. "We need to cut power during heavy storm or when we are repairing damaged infrastructure to prevent accidents. We are working on a war footing to ensure that residents don't face much problems," he said. On preventive measures during thunderstorm, Kumar said that when there is lightning or thunderstorm, people should stay away from power infrastructure like transformers, poles or wires. "They should get earth leakage circuit breaker and surge protection device installed in their households. In case of a short-circuit or fire, they should immediately inform the (energy) department."