Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said that efforts to restore power supply are actively underway across the Kashmir Valley following widespread disruptions caused by strong gusty winds and heavy snowfall.
Electricity was shut down as a precautionary measure after winds reaching up to 80 km/h battered the region on Thursday night, uprooting trees, damaging rooftops, snapping power lines, and collapsing electricity poles and infrastructure in several areas, including Srinagar.
Eyewitness accounts and social media videos captured the extent of the havoc, which also triggered forest fires in the northern and southern parts of Kashmir.
According to the Chief Minister, the active power load in the Valley has plummeted to less than 100 MW, against the usual demand of around 1,700 MW, primarily due to the outage of almost all 33 kV feeders, including those supplying emergency services.
In a post on X, Omar Abdullah wrote, “As per KPDCL, the active power load in the valley is less than 100 MW as against the usual 1700 MW, essentially due to the outage of almost all 33 kV feeders, including those feeding emergency services.”
He added that teams are working on rectification and restoration, though extensive tree falls on power lines—exacerbated by ongoing windy conditions—remain a major obstacle.
“Damage assessment is underway but would take some time owing to the prevailing weather conditions,” he noted.
Attempts by the Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL) to restore supply in posh residential areas and commercial hubs around 2:30 pm were short-lived due to terrain-related issues and were quickly shut down again.
The severe weather has also damaged houses, other structures, and vehicles at scattered locations, with power outages affecting numerous areas across the Valley, including Srinagar.
Restoration of essential services—electricity, roads, and drinking water—remains the government’s top priority, with teams deployed on a war footing despite challenging conditions.
Also Read: Heavy snowfall in Kashmir; Srinagar Airport suspends flights
Follow us
