Andhra Pradesh restores electricity to 29 lakh cyclone-affected consumers
Power utility teams continue repairing infrastructure in coastal districts after Cyclone Murasu made landfall on November 3.
Power utilities in Andhra Pradesh have brought electricity back to almost 29 lakh people in areas hit by Cyclone Murasu, according to the Hindustan Times. The cyclone made landfall near Kothapatnam on November 3, causing significant damage to power networks in the Bapatla, Prakasam, Palnadu, Guntur, NTR and Krishna districts.
Special Chief Secretary (Energy) K Vijayanand reviewed the recovery efforts at the State Load Dispatch Centre. He noted that while many have regained power, work continues across coastal districts to reach remaining households, farms and businesses.
The extra-high-tension network sustained heavy damage, including the collapse of a 220-kV terminal tower in Bapatla. This incident affected lines along the 132-kV Parchuru-Chirala corridor, though technical teams have since cleared the obstruction and restored supply.
At the 400/220/132-kV Guddigudem substation, engineers used heavy motor pumps to remove floodwater that had breached the compound wall. This allowed for the restoration of 400-kV lines, the 220-kV bus and primary interconnected transformers.
In the Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) zone, 1,001 teams consisting of 11,537 personnel restored power to 5,753 villages and 552 substations. In the CPDCL zone, over 230 teams worked in flood-hit mandals like Naguluppala Padu and Kothapatnam to restore more than three lakh connections.
Vijayanand stated that some areas face delays because waterlogging or poles falling into ponds prevent immediate repairs. He advised the public to avoid fallen poles and submerged electrical equipment, and to report disruptions via toll-free helplines.