SRINAGAR: For the second consecutive year, power infrastructure in Kashmir has suffered massive losses in season’s first bout of snow last week.
An official of the Power Development Department (PDD) told Kashmir Reader losses up to Rs 100 crore were suffered during snow. It included damages to electric transformers, poles and transmission lines.
About ten percent of nearly 7,000 transformers installed in the Valley meant for regulating and maintaining constant voltage to consumers have suffered damages, he said.
“Compared to last year, Power infra has suffered more severe damages this year. This was despite the fact that the department followed all the pre-winter necessary measures,” he added.
Not alone power sector but the widespread snowfall caused massive damages to horticulture sector as well.
According to a top power engineer, the damages were so severe that there was only 50 megawatts of total energy load against the normal more than 1200 megawatts.
The damages mainly occurred between power grids and receiving stations as poles and towers carrying transmission lines buckled under snow.
While the restoration work was carried out in central and south Kashmir but many vast areas in north Kashmir are still without electricity. Like Pattan and Magam grid, which supply power to vast network of villages in north Kashmir, have not been restored so far.
An official reasoned that many towers came under snow and got damaged snapping electricity.
“We have repaired many of them and work is on for the restoration of the rest. But it will still take many days,” he added.

Junaid Nabi Bazaz