A severe storm accompanied by high-velocity winds and thunderstorms swept across parts of Punjab over the past 36 hours, wreaking havoc on the state's power infrastructure. The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has estimated losses of approximately Rs 19.54 crore, one of the highest in recent years, due to widespread damage to electricity poles, transformers, and cables.
Extent of Damage
According to PSPCL officials, the storm uprooted more than 8,492 poles and damaged 1,466 transformers. Additionally, around four kilometers of high-tension cable wires and over 220 kilometers of low-tension wires were affected. The worst-hit areas were the Border and Central Zones of the state. Power supply was disrupted in many regions, with some areas facing outages exceeding ten hours.
Restoration Efforts Underway
A senior PSPCL officer stated, “Strong winds damaged 220-kV supply lines and transformers. Our field staff have been working round the clock and have restored power supply in almost all affected areas. Supply in the remaining pockets will be restored at the earliest.” The utility received a flood of complaints from consumers, but restoration work is nearly complete.
Sharp Drop in Power Demand
The storm also triggered a sudden decline in electricity demand. On Thursday evening, Punjab’s power load plummeted from 14,000 MW to around 3,170 MW within a short span, forcing PSPCL to back down generation from thermal units to maintain grid stability. The under-drawal from the grid was about 3,700 MW. Demand has since recovered to around 10,000 MW.
Impact on Agriculture
The rains have provided some relief for PSPCL as the paddy season picks up. While demand is expected to rise due to assured eight-hour power supply for agriculture, the recent showers are likely to reduce the use of tubewells for a few days, engineers noted.
Calls for Infrastructure Strengthening
Power sector experts have emphasized the need for a detailed study to strengthen infrastructure and minimize financial losses caused by the increasing frequency of extreme weather events linked to climate change. An expert remarked, “Earlier such storms occurred once or twice in more than two years. Over the past three years, they have been causing damages two or three times annually.”
PSPCL officials confirmed that restoration work is nearly complete, with power supply expected to be fully normalized soon.
