Rain pain: Bageshwar dist villages struggle for power

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 26

Rain, which brought much-needed relief from the scorching heat, also created problems for residents. Strong winds and thundershowers had damaged the electricity distribution system in the state.

This could be easily gauged by the fact that the supply of electricity to nearly 4,000 villages was affected in Garhwal and Kumaon divisions after a storm hit Uttarakhand on May 22.

The data compiled by Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) highlighted that the maximum number of villages (1,075) went without electricity in Pithoragarh district, which was followed by 803 villages in Bageshwar district in the Kumaon division of the state.

UPCL officials claimed that power supply was restored to 2,767 villages on May 23, while technical snags were removed in order to supply round-the-clock electricity to 819 villages on May 24. The power supply was restored to most of the affected villages except in Bageshwar district due to the tough hilly terrains of the district.

UPCL official spokesperson Madhusudan lamented that inclement weather always had adverse effect on the electricity distribution system. He said repair of transformers and other equipment was under way in order to restore the electricity supply to affected villages. He said UPCL Managing Director SS Yadav instructed officials to expedite the repair work to avoid inconvenience to residents in the state.