Telangana sends power restoration teams to cyclone-hit Andhra Pradesh
A total of 2,527 staff from two Telangana power utilities are working round-the-clock to restore electricity in Andhra Pradesh.
A total of 2,527 staff members from Telangana's two power distribution companies, TGSPDCL and TGNPDCL, have been deployed to Andhra Pradesh to restore electricity following Cyclone Arnab, according to The Hindu.
The teams left on Thursday after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi requested assistance from Telangana Deputy Chief Minister and Energy Minister Bhatti Vikramarka. Naidu briefed Bhatti Vikramarka on the situation in districts including Anakapalli, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, Eluru, NTR, Guntur, Parvathipuram Manyam and Alluri Sitharama Raju.
The Southern Discom has sent 1,400 staff from its 16 circles, along with 37 emergency response vehicles, 32 pole auger machines, tree-cutting machines, battery-operated pruners, and other tools. The Northern Discom has deputed 1,127 personnel, organised into 114 special teams, to replace damaged poles, conductors, and distribution transformers.
Preliminary estimates suggest that over 16,000 electricity poles were uprooted, causing power outages in hundreds of villages. The cyclone also caused extensive damage to crops and power infrastructure, according to Naidu.
Personnel are deployed in areas including Amalapuram, Razole, Draksharamam, Ramavaram, Bhimavaram, Ainavolu, Narsapur, Katrenikona, Mummidivaram, Nadikudi, and Ambajipeta. The managements of both utilities have offered to send more staff if required to complete the work.