A dilapidated electricity pole and transformer collapsed early Thursday morning in Ghaziabad
GHAZIABAD: A major mishap was averted early Thursday morning when a dilapidated dual electricity pole with a 63kV installed transformer and 11,000kV overhead cables collapsed in the Vikram Enclave area of Shalimar Garden, Ghaziabad. The incident, which occurred early in the morning around 5:40am, accompanied by a loud crash sound, caused panic among local residents. Fortunately, the pole did not fall to the ground as it got entangled in the overhead cables, which averted a major mishap for house numbers 50 and 51, where it could have landed on their balconies. the dilapidated pole was replaced by 12:40 noon While supply was resumed within two hours from an alternate source.
Also, had the incident occurred half an hour later, it could have led to a major mishap for officegoers and schoolchildren. However, the incident triggered panic among local residents, who raised questions about the lack of power infra repairs and maintenance in the area. The power department has also initiated an investigation, stating that action will be taken for negligence.
48, 50, and 51 had been in a dilapidated state for a long time. Ravi Bhati, the BJP Councillor for Ward 37, Shalimar Garden, alleged that the management of the Vikram Enclave substation has been poor for a long time. Vikram Enclave is a densely populated area of about 15000 inhabitants.
The 11kV double-pole structure situated in front of Plot Nos, according to the residents. Otherwise, it could have led to a major accident,” said Dinesh Mathur, a resident of Vikram Enclave, Shalimar Garden. “Since it was early morning, very little activity was on the road, and a major incident was averted,” said Mathur. “The safety of residents in the area is at stake, and immediate action is necessary,” Gupta stated.
They alleged that despite repeated complaints to electricity department officials, no action was taken to replace the pole. Following the collapse, the transformer remained suspended by the power lines above the road. Continuous oil leakage from the transformer raised safety concerns among the local population. He stated that residents had repeatedly complained to the substation’s junior engineer (JE) Parvinder and sub-divisional officer (SDO) Bhuvan Kumar Verma about the need to replace the dilapidated and corroded electricity poles, yet the issue remained unresolved. The collapse of the pole and transformer disrupted the electricity supply in Vikram Enclave and the surrounding areas. “My house is near the Vikram Enclave substation. Thankfully, the pole got entangled in overhead cables. As people gathered near the pole fall, Mathur added that had the incident occurred a little later, school children and daily commuters could have faced a major mishap. The power outage also led to water supply issues in residents’ homes. The incident serves as a reminder of the crucial need for ongoing maintenance of public infrastructure to safeguard the well-being of the residents. Pradeep Gupta, founder of the Shalimar Garden Public Welfare Committee, urged officials to conduct thorough inspections and replace dilapidated poles to prevent potential accidents.
We learnt of the pole fall after power got cut early morning on Thursday.
Brijesh Kumar, chief engineer of the Ghaziabad power department’s Zone 3, confirmed that the 63 kV distribution transformer was damaged during the incident, but the double pole was successfully replaced, and power was restored. Kumar added that supply was resumed for the majority of residents within an hour from an alternate source; only 10-15 consumers had to wait till 12:43, by when the pole was replaced, and supply resumed. “At approximately 5:55 am today, a double pole of a 63 KVA transformer, located approximately 100 meters from the Vikram Enclave power substation, collapsed. The cables of the DLF-1 and Old Vikram feeders were running on the double pole. Since infra repairs are ongoing works, we remain vigilant for the maintenance of essential services to prevent further incidents,” said chief engineer zone 3 Brijesh Kumar.
“Due to the corroded pole, the pole collapsed under the weight of the cables. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Ghaziabad | Silver Rate in Ghaziabad | Bank Holidays in Ghaziabad | Public Holidays in Ghaziabad | Ghaziabad AQI | Weather in Ghaziabad | Petrol Price in Ghaziabad | Diesel Price in Ghaziabad | CNG Price in Ghaziabad | LPG Price in Ghaziabad Stay updated with the latest Ghaziabad news.
“The 63 kv transformer is also being replaced,” said Kumar. Timely intervention helped mitigate the risk,” said Singh. Residents also demanded an immediate survey of all dilapidated electricity poles and wiring in the area, urging that poles posing a risk of accidents be replaced on a priority basis to prevent any major mishap in the future. Kumar stated, “The double pole was found to be rusted at the base under the interlocking tiles on the pavement, which was not visible, leading to its deterioration until it collapsed. The overhead weight of the cables and transformer contributed to the pole’s fall. Sandeep Singh, executive engineer, added that the damaged pole was replaced within a couple of hours. The pole was corroded from within, causing it to collapse. Following the incident, the concerned team took immediate action and replaced the double pole and restored supply rapidly within an hour. Power department officials stated that necessary steps are being taken to avert further such incidents. “We are investigating the matter, and action will be taken for negligence. Download the TOI App.