Andhra Pradesh has restored electricity supply to nearly 29 lakh consumers across cyclone-hit districts, while power utility teams continue repairing transmission and distribution infrastructure damaged by heavy rain, floods and strong winds.
Special Chief Secretary (Energy) K. Vijayanand reviewed the restoration work at the State Load Dispatch Centre at Vidyut Soudha with senior officials from APTRANSCO and the state distribution companies. He said public safety remained the priority as personnel worked in hazardous conditions following the cyclones.
The affected network covers Bapatla, Prakasam, Palnadu, Guntur, NTR and Krishna districts. The cyclone made landfall near Kothapatnam on November 3, and the resulting damage disrupted electricity supply to homes, farms and businesses in several areas.
The extra-high-tension transmission network suffered extensive damage. A 220-kV terminal tower collapsed in Bapatla, bringing down lines along the 132-kV Parchuru-Chirala corridor. Technical teams cleared the obstruction and restored supply despite flood currents in the area.
Floodwater also breached the compound wall of the 400/220/132-kV Guddigudem substation. Engineers used heavy motor pumps to drain the water, carried out safety inspections and restored the 400-kV lines, the 220-kV bus and the primary interconnected transformers.
In the APEPDCL zone, 1,001 teams involving 11,537 personnel restored electricity to all 552 affected substations and 5,753 villages, benefiting nearly 29 lakh consumers. The figures indicate the scale of the response required when damage to high-voltage infrastructure affects large rural and semi-urban service areas at the same time.
Repair work remains incomplete in locations where electricity poles have fallen into ponds or where waterlogging has prevented immediate replacement. Officials said temporary arrangements were being made to supply power to affected areas until permanent repairs could be completed.
The Energy department has warned residents not to approach fallen poles, snapped wires or electrical equipment submerged in water. Consumers have been asked to report supply disruptions and damaged transformers through the electricity department’s toll-free helplines. Vijayanand said he was confident uninterrupted supply would soon be ensured across the state.
