Navy shares the uphill task

Airlifts material needed to restore transmission tower atop Simhachalam hill. Considering the remote location of the tower on the Simhachalam hill made this task extremely difficult and laborious and time consuming.

Naval helicopter carrying spare parts for restoration of 132 KV transmission tower of the AP Transco atop Simhachalam Hilll in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday. Personnel unloading the spare parts from a cargo net. Photo: By arrangement

Indian Navy airlifted reconstruction material and other spares required for restoration of 132 KV Transmission Tower of the AP Transco on top of Simhachalam hill on Tuesday.

The Naval helicopter Seaking of INS Dega airlifted reconstruction material comprising of iron poles, angles, cement bags and other spares loaded in cargo nets to the remote location enabling the Transco to rebuild the high tension tower in a short span of time. AP Transco that has been able to restore power supply to most of the city in an extremely short time in the aftermath of Hudhud found one high tension tower of 132 KV on Simhachalam hill had collapsed.

This tower had to be reconstructed immediately to enable uninterrupted power supply to the remaining part of the city and was also extremely critical for providing power to the industries located around the city.

Considering the remote location of the tower on the Simhachalam hill made this task extremely difficult and laborious and time consuming.

The city administration sought assistance of the Navy in positioning of the complete construction material weighing about 10 tonnes at the remote location. Indian Navy undertook a feasibility study and a Seaking helicopter of the INS Dega was immediately pressed into service this morning and undertook multiple flights.