Karnataka sends 500 powermen to help restore power in Andhra Pradesh
The deployment includes specialised machinery to repair infrastructure damaged by Cyclone Arnab and Cyclone Murasu.
The Karnataka government has deployed 500 skilled powermen and specialised equipment to Andhra Pradesh to assist in repairing electricity infrastructure damaged by Cyclone Arnab and Cyclone Murasu, according to reports by Deccan Chronicle, ANI and The Hindu.
Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said he spoke with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to assure him of full support. The assistance follows a request from the Andhra Pradesh government for manpower and machinery to address damage, including over 15,000 uprooted electricity poles.
The deployment includes 15 Palfinger trucks featuring cranes and earth augers, alongside 25 drilling machines mounted on tractors. These teams were mobilised on an emergency basis on Monday afternoon and arrived in Andhra Pradesh by midnight.
Energy Minister KJ George is monitoring the situation. The linemen have been organised into 10-member teams, each headed by a junior or assistant engineer, with an executive engineer assigned for overall supervision.
To ensure coordination, each electricity supply company (ESCOM) has appointed a single point of contact to liaise with Andhra Pradesh officials. Drivers and operators are also accompanying the heavy machinery to the sites.
The Karnataka government is providing contingency funds to cover the travel and accommodation costs for the personnel. Shivakumar stated the state would continue to assess the impact of the approaching Cyclone Murasu over the next two days.