Powergrid playing major role in quick power restoration in cyclone-hit Odisha

Indian state-owned electric utility company Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (Powergrid) said Tuesday it has extended all necessary help for the restoration of electricity in cyclone-ravaged Odisha.

The power supply in the State was badly affected by the cyclone 'Fani', on May 3, 2019, which was reportedly the strongest tropical cyclone to hit India in the last 20 years. It caused massive damage to power supply infrastructure in coastal Odisha uprooting lakhs of electric poles, transformers and collapse of towers.

"Powergrid has helped restore power with the use of state-of-the-art techniques like emergency restoration system (ERS), swift operation management and by pooling its about 1,000 specialized manpower from the neighbouring states like West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh to assist the state entities like OPTCL (Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited) and CESU (Central Electricity Supply Utility).

"All the necessary help has been extended for the restoration of electricity in affected areas of the state," it added. POWERGRID also extended help in the restoration of communication network thus, helping the state return to normalcy. POWERGRID has created specific 24x7 control rooms at its various strategic locations and its workforce has been working day and night for coordination between various state agencies, providing timely assistance and feedback to its teams and state entities at ground zero, the company said.