Patiala: The recent floods in Punjab have inflicted heavy damage on the state’s power infrastructure, with preliminary estimates placing the loss at Rs 102.58 crore, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) said.
The Upper Beas Diversion Channel (UBDC) hydel power project in Pathankot was the worst affected, suffering a loss of Rs 62.5 crore, officials said.
According to PSPCL’s preliminary assessment, 2,322 distribution transformers and 7,114 power connections were damaged. Nearly 864 km of conductors and supply lines also collapsed, causing losses of Rs 4.32 crore. The corporation’s own infrastructure, including office buildings, control rooms and equipment, sustained damages worth Rs 2.61 crore.
Critical components such as vacuum circuit breakers, panels, batteries and relays were damaged to the tune of Rs 46 lakh, while grid substations reported losses of about Rs 2.55 crore.
“Transformers, poles and lines were either submerged or washed away due to the floods, causing major damage. Our repair teams are working round the clock to restore power to critical substations and affected villages,” a senior PSPCL official said.
He added that the figures represent only a preliminary estimate. “Once the flood waters recede and a fresh ground-level assessment is made, the actual damage is likely to increase.”
