Rains, gusty winds cause over Rs 30 crore damage to power infrastructure across Karnataka
Dharwad: Heavy rains and gusty winds over the past two months have severely damaged power infrastructure across Kittur-Karnataka, Kalyana-Karnataka, and Coastal Karnataka, resulting in losses exceeding Rs 30 crore to regional electricity supply companies — HESCOM, GESCOM, and MESCOM.
According to a report cited by Deccan Herald on Tuesday, MESCOM (responsible for electricity distribution in Coastal Karnataka) reported the damage of over 5,050 electric poles and the bursting of 137 transformers. More than 253 km of power lines were disrupted, leaving several areas in the coastal belt facing persistent power outages amid ongoing heavy rainfall and high-speed winds.
HESCOM reported infrastructure losses of Rs 6.07 crore between May and June. Over 4,600 electricity poles and 214 transformers were damaged across its seven divisions due to rain-induced flooding and lightning. Dharwad district alone accounted for 613 damaged poles and 28 transformers, while Uttara Kannada — one of the worst-hit regions — reported 2,128 fallen poles and 142 damaged transformers. In Gadag district, 284 electricity poles were uprooted.
GESCOM has reported extensive damage across its jurisdiction. The company reportedly recorded over 7,544 electric poles and 498 transformers damaged over the last two months. Kalaburagi City was among the worst affected, with 2,060 poles and 110 transformers impacted. In Bidar, 1,190 poles and 150 transformers were damaged, while over 65 km of power lines collapsed across the region.
“In urban areas, damaged transformers are replaced within 24 hours, while in rural areas, the process takes up to 72 hours. However, immediate repair becomes difficult if a large number of poles are affected or if the damage occurs at night. We stock extra poles and transformers during the monsoon to ensure quicker restoration,” DH quoted GESCOM Managing Director Ravindra Karlingannavar as saying.
Meanwhile, residents in affected areas continue to face hardships. Narayan Bhat, a senior citizen and member of the HESCOM Users’ Committee from Heggara village in Ankola taluk, shared that recurring damage is common during the monsoon due to trees falling on electric lines and poles. “Once the monsoon sets in, villagers often go without electricity for a week to fifteen days, living cut off from the outside world. We’ve become used to this. Thankfully, with the recent installation of solar and UPS systems, the situation is slightly better than before,” he noted.
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2 held for strangling to death 3-year-old girl in Jharkhand’s Godda
Godda (PTI): Two persons were arrested for allegedly strangling to death a three-year-old girl and dumping her body into a well in Jharkhand’s Godda district, police said on Friday.
The incident took place at Makudi village within Muffasil police station limits on Thursday night, they said.
Villagers said they spotted a man identified as Prem Murmu (50) near the well at night and, suspecting foul play, informed the police.
"The kid's body was recovered from the well soon after, and Murmu was detained for questioning," said Anand Shah, the officer-in-charge of Muffasil police station.
During interrogation, Murmu told police that he and his friend Jarmen Soren (30) had killed the kid. Both were later arrested, Saha said.
"The accused were in an inebriated state at the time of the incident. They have not yet revealed the motive behind the killing. This has led to suspicion that the girl might have been raped," the OC said.
The duo have been sent to judicial custody after registering an FIR at the police station, police said.
