JBVNL deploys 24/7 QRTs across 44 power supply divisions to tackle monsoon-induced outages

Ranchi: In response to the intensifying monsoon across Jharkhand, Jharkhand Bijli Vitaran Nigam Ltd (JBVNL) has launched an aggressive, statewide strategy to combat storm-induced disruptions and safeguard power quality.JBVNL director (distribution and projects) Prabhat Kumar Srivastava on Thursday said, “The discom has placed its entire administrative and field workforce on high alert to tackle severe weather emergencies.”Specialised quick-response teams have been stationed across all 44 power supply divisions to mitigate prolonged blackouts during torrential downpours. Operating 24/7 under the direct command of local executiveengineers, each three-member crew — consisting of an ITI-certified technician and two assistants — is equipped with dedicated service vehicles to swiftly address emergencies such as burnt transformers and snapped power lines.“To ensure rapid recovery during severe weather, we have stocked up on critical hardware. We have an ample supply of conductors, backup transformers, poles and wires, which will be dispatched as and when required,” Srivastava stated.Preventative maintenance has also been intensified to reinforce the distribution network against high-velocity winds. Field teams are working under strict mandates to complete tree trimming around at least one feeder per division every single day, scaling up operations as required.

This protective drive spans a vast network of 2,300 feeders of 11 kV and 650 feeders of 33 kV across the state. The director emphasised the importance of this drive, noting that tree branches pose a significant risk of damage to feeders and wiring during the monsoon.Additionally, technical teams are conducting rigorous inspections to identify and secure sagging or loose wires by strategically erecting midspan poles.

To support these grid-fortification efforts, the discom has already deployed approximately 5,000 poles across Jharkhand over the last three months based on localised requirements.The discom is currently replacing an average of 2,500 transformers each month to counter seasonal technical faults and lightning strikes. Following an earlier directive from Jharkhand Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd Chairman-cum-Managing Director K Srinivasan mandating that all damaged units be restored within a day, JBVNL has maximised its workshop output.“The state has 26 transformerrepairworkshops (TRWs), which are functioning at full capacity. These facilities are repairing between 90 and 100 units daily. This ensures that any transformer damaged during monsoon storms is replaced within 24 hours, keeping the state’s power grid resilient against the elements,” Srivastava said.Speaking to TOI, Ranchi Meteorological Centre director Baburaj PP confirmed that many parts of Jharkhand are expected to receive widespread rainfall over the next few days, driven by a cyclonic circulation forming over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas.