Devastating floods and landslips in Kodagu have left villages across 10 gram panchayats in darkness with transmission lines and electricity poles suffering extensive damage.
Though the engineers and linemen from Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Company are working overtime to restore power, they are faced with the challenge of reaching the sites for re-establishing electricity with many roads either washed away or ravaged. Power supply has been disrupted in villages across Madikeri taluk, especially around Suntikoppa area, besides parts of Madikeri town. However, supply to the relief camps in Suntikoppa area has been restored.
In some villages that are still accessible, poles have been replaced three times with recurrence of earth caving in. Linemen are continuing to work, assisted by the locals and estate owners.
Each team consists of around 50 linemen from Mysuru and the local linemen join them. Braving intermittent rains and threats of earth caving in, these linemen, equipped with support gear and gumboots, have been trekking hills to get the lines restored. In one case, the linemen trekked for about 7 km carrying materials to reach a spot near Madapura.
CESC’s assistant executive engineer said: “On an average, 3,000 to 3,500 electricity poles suffer damages every monsoon in Kodagu. This time, the landslips have caused more damage and also made their job tough. We are putting in our best and hope to restore supply soon.”
