Srinagar (PTI): More than 80 per cent of the electricity supply was restored in Kashmir on Friday evening following its disruption due to gusty winds and snowfall, officials said.
Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) officials said that due to the severe gusty winds, incessant rainfall and heavy snowfall across various parts of Kashmir, the power demand witnessed an unprecedented decline and it dropped to the lowest level of 93 MW at around 10 pm on Thursday night as against the normal average of approximately 1650 MW.
The network was live until 10 pm on Thursday when the load abruptly crashed due to faults/damage of various 33kV/11kV feeders, owing to gusty winds, they said.
The rooftops of houses were blown off and smashed on to 33kV/11KV line, causing damage to the electrical line and adding extra difficulty in clearing the smashed roof structures hanging on the lines, the officials said.
At the sub-transmission level, 103 out of 135 33 kV lines were down/under fault, reflecting nearly 24 per cent active network at this level.
Similarly, at the distribution level, 1275 out of 1302 11 kV feeders were down/under fault till morning, they added.
Following standard operating procedures (SOPs), wee morning restoration had already started and is being monitored at all levels led by managing director or chief engineer and pursued by superintending engineers or executive engineers.
The restoration picked up pace and by 6 pm on Friday, almost 80 per cent network was restored and load of 1050 MW was recorded with prioritising of essential and vital installations, they added.
The KPDCL officials said heavy snowfall and high-speed winds have badly affected the electrical infrastructure, particularly in Shopian, Kulgam, Baramulla and Budgam.
Around 4.5-foot snow in high terrains of these areas is affecting the restoration work as vehicular movement is also severely impaired, they said.
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Chennai: Actor-politician Vijay has reportedly not been invited to take oath as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after failing to demonstrate support from the required number of MLAs, sources in Raj Bhavan said.
According to media reports that quoted sources in the office of R.N. Ravi Arlekar, Vijay could not prove the backing of 118 legislators, the majority mark in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Despite last-minute efforts to secure support from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazagam (AMMK), and an IUML legislator, Vijay reportedly managed support from only 116 MLAs, falling short by two members.
Sources said Vijay failed to submit letters of support from the VCK and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
Later, the IUML issued a statement clarifying that it was not part of the TVK-led alliance.
Meanwhile, AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran is also said to have informed the Governor that his party would support the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) instead.
Earlier in the evening, Vijay had met Governor Arlekar and staked claim to form the government, stating that he enjoyed the support of 118 MLAs.
