Jammu Tawi, Sep 2: Jammu and Kashmir’s Power Development Department (PDD) restored over 90 per cent of electricity load within 48 hours of the August 26 torrential rains that triggered landslides, cloudbursts and caused massive damage to power infrastructure in the Jammu region, officials said Tuesday.
The record rainfall on August 26 brought down most feeders, plunging the power load to just 299 MW against a normal demand of 1,050 MW. By 7 pm on August 27, supply was restored to 725 MW (70 per cent), and by the evening of August 28 it had increased to 960 MW (92 per cent), a PDD spokesperson said.
He said the achievement was possible due to “round-the-clock work under extremely adverse conditions, isolating faulty elements and sourcing power through alternate arrangements”. Strong teamwork with NHPC, PGCIL, NHAI, police and other agencies made restoration efforts exceptional, he added.
The rains had caused widespread destruction—transmission towers collapsed, receiving stations were inundated, and nearly 19,000 distribution transformers and hundreds of poles were damaged. Out of 1,349 feeders, only 364 were functional on the evening of August 26.
“Restoring power to essential installations such as defence establishments, Jal Shakti, AIIMS, GMC Jammu and other hospitals was our first priority, and most had electricity on the very first day,” the spokesperson said.
The 900 MW Baglihar Hydroelectric Project, which had been shut on August 26 due to high silt levels in the Chenab river, was restored within 60 hours. “By August 29, all units were synchronised to secure energy supply for the region,” the spokesperson said.
To accelerate restoration, the department deployed the emergency restoration system (ERS) to replace collapsed towers. Using ERS, a tower on the Hiranagar–Battal–Manwal line was replaced within 24 hours, a task that normally takes months.
Officials noted that while temporary restoration has stabilised supply, permanent restoration of damaged towers, poles and substation equipment will take several months. “Our teams are working closely with NHPC, PGCIL, NHAI and other agencies to complete the task. The teamwork and synergy have been remarkable,” the spokesperson added.
