Hell of a storm uprooted 238 power poles, 300 trees

By NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: There was havoc all across Bengaluru Sunday evening after unprecedented rains swamped the city uprooting trees and electricity poles plunging several parts into darkness and disrupting traffic. Power is yet to return to many localities even 24 hours after the deluge with workmen busy chopping the trees and getting power cables back in place.

According to Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM), the gusty winds also uprooted around 300 trees. The power utility claimed that around 40 per cent of poles had already been replaced and electricity restoration was underway.

Meanwhile, BBMP officials confirmed that a huge tree had fallen on a bus, car and autorickshaw in the city.

Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) data disclosed that Bengaluru city limits had received 53 mm of rain Sunday evening. Although thundershowers were predicted by IMD for parts of Bengaluru and interior Karnataka in the next few days, it did not happen on Monday.

Bangalore Electricity Sup - ply Company (Bescom) has disclosed that 238 electricity poles were damaged in and around the city, plunging many areas into darkness.

The power service provider said that gusty winds had uprooted the poles along with around 300 trees. They added that around 40 per cent of the poles had already been replaced and electricity was being restored.

“Due to heavy rains on Sunday evening, power was interrupted in Bengaluru Urban and Rural districts. The Bescom has taken restoration work and restored the power in many areas. Including Ramanagara and Kolar divisions, total 238 electric poles fell and were damaged.

“Nearly 300 trees and trunks fell on electric poles, due to this power being interrupted in Bengaluru, Kolar, Kanakapura, Ramanagara, Magadi and Chandapura division. However Bescom staff have taken restoration work by installing electric poles and clearing fallen trees on electric poles,” a Bescom statement said.

The company assured that power had been restored in parts of the city. “Power has been restored in parts of Bengaluru Urban districts and it will resume in the remaining areas by 5 pm on Monday,” senior Bescom officials said.

“About 40 per cent of damaged electric poles were replaced out of 238 damaged electric poles. Out of 21 damaged polls from Bengaluru South division 7 were re-established. And work in progress to repair 14 poles. From the East division, all 13 poles have been reestablished and power supply is resumed. Out of seven poles from West division, two were re-established and other poles will be repaired by evening,” the statement said.

The Bescom staff is working to re-establish 100 damaged poles in Ramanagra and 70 poles in Kolar division. The repair work will be completed by Monday evening.

The power supplier said over 850 Bescom staff is working on a war footing to re-establish damaged electric poles and clearing fallen trees. On Sunday night 228 staff worked tirelessly and Monday 627 staff are involved in repair work, said Bescom,” the statement read.

Vehicles damaged, homes flooded
Bruhata Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials confirmed that more reports of rain damage had come in on Monday. These included a huge tree collapsing on a bus, a car and an auto-rickshaw. Uttarahalli witnessed flooding and water entered into houses. Overflowing drain water could be seen stagnating on B.V.K. Iyengar road. Areas like Jalahalli, Kormangala, BTM Layout, Whitefield, Mico Layout, among others also witnessed waterlogging. “The BBMP chief commissioner (Gaurav Gupta) has already taken stock of the situation and he has ordered the removal of fallen trees and other damaged objects,” a BBMP official said.

53 MM RAIN IN CITY
Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) data disclosed that Bengaluru city limits had received 53 mm of rain on Sunday evening. Meanwhile, Bengaluru International Airport area and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) airport area received 34 and 44 mm of rainfall respectively. Although, thundershowers had been forecast by IMD for parts of Bengaluru district and interior Karnataka the next few days, Bengaluru was sunny on Monday.