8 hours ago
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Cyclone Montha has caused extensive damage to Andhra Pradesh’s power infrastructure, crippling transmission and distribution networks across several districts.
According to the three power distribution companies in the State—APEPDCL, APCPDCL, and APSPDCL—the total estimated loss to the power sector would be around ₹2,200 crore, with large-scale damage done to power substations, transformers, poles, and power lines.
As per preliminary estimates, the APEPDCL reported losses of around ₹1,000 crore, while it is about ₹500 crore for APCPDCL, and nearly ₹700 crore for APSPDCL.
The officials said that restoration work was progressing rapidly, despite heavy rains and flooding in several coastal areas. With teams working round the clock and power being restored in a phased manner, the authorities hope that supply to all urban centres and essential installations would be normalised within the next 24 hours.
As per the data, a total of 15,401 11KV feeders, 3,596 33KV substations, and more than 19 lakh service connections were affected. The eastern districts under APEPDCL bore the brunt of the cyclone, while severe damage was later reported in parts of the coastal and Rayalaseema regions under APCPDCL and APSPDCL.
Srikakulam, Anakapalli, East Godavari, and Konaseema circles of the APEPDCL recorded heavy infrastructure losses, including broken poles and snapped conductors.
The Central region, comprising Krishna, Guntur, and Prakasam disticts, also reported major feeder and line disruptions. The southern region under APSPDCL, covering Nellore, Tirupati, Kadapa, and Annamayya districts, suffered significant damage to distribution transformers and low-tension networks.
The utilities reported that of the 267 11KV feeders affected statewide, 254 have already been restored, while work is in full swing to bring the remaining 13 feeders back on track. Similarly, 26 damaged 33KV substations have been rectified.
Around 11,761 engineers, linemen, and contract workers have been deployed across the State to restore power supply, supported by over a thousand contractor batches and special maintenance teams.
Officials said that emergency materials including poles, conductors, DTRs, and cables have been mobilised from district stores and private centres located between Srikakulam and Narasaraopet.
More than 50,000 poles and several kilometres of AAAC and XLPE conductors are being diverted to the most affected districts to expedite repairs.
The APEPDCL has made 15,000 electricity poles available for emergency relief operations in 11 districts, including Kakinada and Konaseema regions, where the cyclone is expcted to make a landfall.
Speaking to The Hindu, APEPDCL CMD I. Prudhvitej said extensive arrangements have been made for restoration activities in every mandal, especially in the cyclone-affected areas.
“We have kept around 15,000 electric poles, 950 transformers, 115 cranes, 80 excavators, 144 wireless handsets, 254 pole drilling machines ready to undertake power restoration operations. We are confident that if there is any power outage due to the cyclone, it will be restored within hours,” he said.
For information related to power outages due to the cyclone, the public has been urged to contact the toll-free number 1912 or local control room numbers.
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