Twin cyclones cause power grid collapse in Andhra Pradesh, causing damage worth over Rs 500 crore, damaging over 7,500 electricity poles… 3,000 personnel from three states have taken part in the restoration work. – AP Energy Minister Gottipati Ravikumar.
N A T I O N A L N E W S
AP Beauro Report – Bharath (Dg) News
By- Raja Pentapati – Amaravati – NOV 6
The Andhra Pradesh Energy Department has suffered a primary loss of over Rs. 500 crore due to cyclones Arnab and Murasu. More than 7,500 electricity poles were damaged due to cyclone Murasu alone. Power lines, conductors and distribution transformers were also severely damaged, Energy Minister Gottipati Ravikumar said on Friday.
The minister, who visited the cyclone-affected areas in Addanki and Santanutalapadu constituencies of Prakasam district, said that restoration work is being carried out on a war footing with the aim of restoring power supply in all the affected areas by Saturday evening.
He said that while the wind speed during the cyclone Arnab reached about 160 kmph, the cyclone Murasu brought winds of over 120 kmph, causing severe damage to the power network. The initial damage to the power sector due to these two cyclones exceeded Rs. 500 crore.
By Thursday evening, power supply was fully restored in Godavari districts. By Friday, restoration in the remaining cyclone-affected areas had reached about 70 percent. Supply was also restored in major urban centres like Ongole, Chilakaluripet, Narasaraopet and Addanki. The Minister directed the officials to give priority to household power connections, followed by agricultural and aquaculture connections.
Over 3,000 electricity personnel from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana have been deployed for the restoration work. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has coordinated with the Chief Ministers of the three states to mobilize additional manpower and equipment. Sri Ravi Kumar met Karnataka electricity personnel from Bellary in Alavalapadu and Tamil Nadu teams in Nidamanur.
J. The minister, who visited Panguluru, Korisapadu and Naguluppalapadu mandals, inspected the damaged mango orchards, nurseries, houses, animal houses and power infrastructure. Crops like maize, banana, papaya, amla and mango were damaged. Tobacco cultivation and drying sheds were also damaged in some areas of Santanutalapadu, Addanki and Ongole. He spoke to the Prakasam district collector and agriculture officials and directed them to complete a speedy and transparent assessment of crop losses so that no affected farmer is left out of the relief process.
The minister said that a preliminary report on the damage to the power sector has been submitted to the Chief Minister and a detailed report will be submitted in two days. Santanutalapadu MLA Vijay Kumar accompanied him on the visit.
Swacha Andhra Pradesh
