Residents of many localities in Thoothukudi suffered discomfort due to power cut that lasted for several hours on Sunday.
Power supply was suspended around 8 a.m., and it was not restored even after 7.30 p.m. in most of the localities. Even power inverters installed in houses could not withstand the long power cut and batteries went flat, Jeisingh, a resident of Third Mile here, said.
The power cut was experienced by residents of several localities of Muniyasamipuram, Bucklepuram, Levenchipuram, Amutha Nagar, Bungalow Street, Tiruchendur Road and its surroundings. Traders also bore the brunt of the power cut. M. Balasubramanian, councillor of ward 46, said that whenever Tangedco authorities were contacted they just said that power supply would be restored in 30 minutes. Now, Tangedco authorities did not pick up phone.
Tangedco sources told The Hindu that the rain, which occurred since morning, caused the power cut. Power cuts occurred at 10 locations in the city after power lines were severed at some places, jumpers were cut at six locations, and insulators burst at seven locations. Tangedco employees had been fixing the problems.
S. Muthuraj, a resident of Bucklepuram, said that it did not rain heavily. Due to poor electricity infrastructure and bad maintenance, power cuts had been recurring in these localities. Moreover, power suppliers installed here were of inferior quality and even when it rained mildly, there would be power cuts, he said.
Collector and District Election Officer M. Ravikumar said that as per the instruction from Election Commission, power supply should not be interrupted during the polling on Monday. On the long-duration power cut on Sunday, he said that Tangedco officials had been instructed to restore supply at the earliest.
It drizzled since early morning and moderate rains occurred in various parts of the district.
