Pune heatwave worsens with power cut

A large-scale power outage plunged over 4.5 lakh electricity users in Pune into darkness late Wednesday night, coinciding with one of the most unforgiving heatwaves the city has seen in recent years.

The fault, traced to the 400 KV Jejuri Tower Line managed by Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Ltd (Mahatransco), occurred at around 9:45 pm and disrupted supply across key residential zones. With the mercury soaring above 40°C, the blackout added layers of distress for households already grappling with the brutal summer, spotlighting once again the fragility of Pune’s power infrastructure under climatic stress.Critical areas such as Kothrud, Hadapsar, Bibwewadi, Sahakarnagar, and Sinhagad Road were among those hit hardest, where power remained unavailable for more than three hours. While the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) managed to reroute supply between 12:30 am and 1:00 am using alternative systems, the incident exposed the city’s limited buffer against extreme demand spikes.

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the disruption was triggered when the Jejuri line failed due to overheating of key infrastructure components under excessive electricity load. In response, the Load Trimming Scheme (LTS) — a safeguard mechanism to protect other substations from cascading failure — was automatically activated, temporarily shutting down Fursungi, Parvati, Nanded City, and Kothrud substations.The outage’s timing was particularly devastating. Pune, known for its relatively moderate weather, is enduring a spell of intense heat. In many homes, rooms became ovens with no fans or cooling devices, leaving elderly citizens and children especially vulnerable. For several residents, the power disruption was not merely an inconvenience but a public health concern. With customer care lines jammed and no real-time updates available, citizens took to social media to express frustration and seek answers, reflecting a breakdown in both technical and communication systems.

Despite efforts by emergency response teams to restore services swiftly, the incident reignited concerns about the city’s resilience in an era of climate-induced uncertainties. High-voltage substations and critical transmission infrastructure in urban India are increasingly being tested by temperature extremes and surging electricity consumption. Urban planners and utility managers now face the dual challenge of rapidly upgrading infrastructure while also embedding sustainability and reliability into the grid’s DNA. With demands from electric vehicles, commercial expansions, and urban density mounting, the need for climate-resilient energy systems has never been more urgent.Officials from MSEDCL have assured that a thorough analysis of the technical breakdown is underway, with emphasis on strengthening key transmission corridors. But for residents of Pune, the episode has rekindled debates around emergency preparedness, communication failures, and the broader question of whether the city’s infrastructure is keeping pace with the environmental realities of the present. As climate events grow in frequency and intensity, reliable access to power is no longer just a convenience — it is a critical component of urban resilience and public welfare.

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Pune heatwave worsens with power cut