SRINAGAR, Jan 23: Power supply across large parts of the Kashmir Valley was severely disrupted late Wednesday night following heavy snowfall, incessant rainfall and high-speed windstorms, officials of the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) said.
Officials from KPDCL told news agency Kashmir Dot Com (KDC) that the extreme weather conditions caused an unprecedented drop in power demand, with the system load plunging to 93 MW around 10 pm, compared to the normal average load of approximately 1,650 MW. The power network remained live until late night, when widespread faults occurred due to damage to 33 kV and 11 kV feeders caused by gusty winds and falling debris.
Officials said rooftops of several houses were blown off and fell onto power lines, further complicating restoration efforts. At the sub-transmission level, 103 out of 135 (around 76%) 33 kV lines were rendered faulty, while at the distribution level, 1,275 of 1,302 11 kV feeders were down by Thursday morning .
Following established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), restoration work began in the early hours and was closely monitored at all levels, including by the Managing Director, Chief Engineer, Superintending Engineers and Executive Engineers. By 4:30 pm, nearly 75 percent of the network had been restored, and a load of 900 MW was recorded at the State Load Dispatch Centre, with priority given to essential and vital installations.
The worst-affected districts include Shopian, Kulgam, Baramulla, and Budgam, where snowfall measuring up to 4.5 feet in higher reaches has hampered vehicular movement and delayed restoration work.
KPDCL further informed that damage to a transmission tower at Sheeri on the 132 kV Delina–LJHP transmission line has posed additional challenges. The Jammu and Kashmir Power Transmission Corporation Limited (JKPTCL) is working to restore the line by erecting an Emergency Restoration System (ERS).
Reaffirming its commitment, KPDCL told Kashmir Dot Com that men and machinery have been mobilized on a war footing and efforts are underway to restore power supply to all affected areas by dusk.
