SRINAGAR: With the early onset of bone-chilling winters and a surge in electricity consumption, nearly 50 Distribution Transformers (DTs) of varying load capacities are being damaged daily across the Kashmir Valley, primarily due to overloading and the use of crude heating gadgets.
A senior official of the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) said that a significant number of DTs have been damaged over the past month. While some are repaired promptly, others are transported to workshops for restoration.
“On average, at least 50 DTs are damaged every day. The majority of these damages occur in rural areas, where most consumers are unmetered,” the official said.
The official also highlighted the financial impact, stating, “The cost of repairing a single damaged DT average between Rs 2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh.”
In a statement, KPDCL revealed that 1,043 DTs were damaged in November alone, out of which 1,035 have already been restored.
Chief Engineer (Distribution) KPDCL, Aaquib Waheed Deva, urged consumers to manage their heating load during power resumption after curtailment hours to prevent transformer damage. “Power outages within 15-20 minutes of resumption are primarily caused by the simultaneous use of heating gadgets,” Deva said.
She assured that unscheduled power outages could be minimized if heating loads were synchronized with the sanctioned limits of consumers.
KPDCL also reported maintaining a buffer stock of 1,554 DTs through repairs conducted at various divisional workshops and the Central Workshop in Pampore. (KNO)
