A thunderstorm lashed parts of Haryana late on Thursday night, much to the delight of farmers preparing their fields for paddy transplantation. However, the heavy rain and strong winds caused extensive damage to power infrastructure and uprooted hundreds of trees, leaving thousands of consumers without electricity for hours in several areas across Karnal and Kaithal districts. Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) personnel were seen erecting poles and transformers after the storm, while employees of civic bodies were busy removing uprooted trees from roads.
The storm wreaked havoc on UHBVN’s power distribution network. In Karnal district alone, 234 9-metre electricity poles, 25 11-metre poles and 77 transformers were damaged due to the thunderstorm. Officials estimated the loss at nearly Rs 69 lakh. The damage resulted in widespread power disturbance across urban and rural areas, forcing many residents to spend the entire night in darkness. UHBVN control rooms and officials received hundreds of complaints from affected consumers as restoration teams worked throughout the night to repair the damaged infrastructure.
“Our teams led by six XENs, 23 SDOs and around 150 JEs are in the field to fix the damaged poles and restore power supply. We have already restored power in domestic and industrial areas, while supply in the agriculture sector is being restored,” said Naeeb Singh, Superintending Engineer, Karnal Circle.
In Kaithal district, the storm caused even more destruction. A total of 766 electricity poles, two transmission towers and 139 transformers were damaged. The officials claimed that Kalayat and Rajound blocks suffered the maximum damage.
“Nearly 52 teams have been pressed into service to restore power supply. All three XENs, 13 SDOs and 75 JEs are working continuously. Power supply has been restored in most urban areas and residential rural areas, while efforts are underway to restore supply for agricultural connections,” said Sombir, Superintending Engineer, Kaithal.
Apart from damaging power infrastructure, the storm also uprooted a large number of trees across the region, causing losses for the Forest Department and disrupting traffic at several locations.
Despite the destruction, farmers welcomed the rainfall, describing it as a blessing ahead of the paddy transplantation season. Many farmers said the rain would improve soil moisture and reduce their dependence on tubewells for irrigation.
“The rainfall has come at the right time. Our fields needed moisture before paddy transplantation. It will save irrigation costs and help us prepare the land more efficiently,” said Sukhvinder Singh Chawla, a progressive farmer from Nagla Magha village.
However, residents affected by prolonged power cuts expressed frustration. “We had to spend the entire night without electricity,” said resident Gaurav Kumar.
