Flash strike by power sector employees since Sunday morning and strong gales that snapped power supply compounded woes of people in the fort town. Trees uprooted by strong surface winds fell on feeder lines of Mushidipalli water supply scheme at Madhupada village. As a result, drinking water to half of the fort town was cut off.
Municipal Commissioner R. Somannarayana told The Hindu on Monday that 14 electric poles were damaged near the water scheme and efforts to replace them were going on at a brisk pace. “So far, 10 poles have been replaced and the balance work would be completed by tonight. The water supply will be restored by Tuesday afternoon.” Arrangements were made to supply water through tankers to about 20 of the 40 wards, he said. The town gets 9 mld of water from the Mushidipalli scheme.
The Municipal Commissioner said that to overcome similar crisis in future, the civic body had already indented for four generators to be installed in the next fortnight at Mushidipalli, Ramatheerthaalu, Nellimarla Pump house and Nellimarla water works. He felt that the water supply could be streamlined once they were installed.
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The strong gales have also snapped 33kv, 11kv, and LT transmission lines in S. Kota, L. Kota and Gantyada mandals plunging over 100 villages into darkness. D. Satyanarayana, Transco SE (operations), said that 200 contract workers were deployed to restore supply. The Transco, Vizianagaram Operation Circle, incurred loss to the tune of Rs. 20 lakh.
Horticulture officials said that 147 farmers were affected when their banana plantation in an extent of 88.40 hectares was damaged in Badangi, Therlam, Bobbili and Gantyada mandals. They put the loss at Rs. 124.20 lakhs.