Power supply restoration works have been taken up on a war footing in the districts under the purview of the Eastern Power Distribution Company of Andhra Pradesh (APEPDCL) following the damage and disruption caused to the network due to the heavy rains and gusty winds that lashed the region in the last two days under the impact of the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal, according to APEPDCL Chairman and Managing Director I. Pruthvitej.
In a statement here on Thursday, the CMD said preparedness following the weather forecasts and the relentless efforts of field-level officers and staff, ensured the swift restoration of power supply.
Advanced deployment of additional manpower, vehicles, cranes, pole-drilling machinery, electricity poles, and distribution transformers from September 22 enabled immediate deployment as soon as the cyclonic impact began.
According to reports compiled up to Thursday evening, 122 out of 127 affected 33/11 KV substations were restored. Out of 111 damaged 33 KV feeders, 99 were put back in service, alongside 14 out of 17 damaged 33 KV poles. In the 11 KV category, 481 out of 536 feeders and 218 out of 471 poles were repaired. Restoration covered 7.4 kilometres of the 15.77-km damaged 11 KV lines, 11 kilometres of the 20.47-km LT lines, 218 of 461 LT poles, and 119 of 195 distribution transformers. Power was restored in 1,238 of the 1,468 affected villages.
The adverse weather affected 8,87,757 electricity services, of which supply was restored to 8,30,679 services. This included 7,89,212 out of 8,37,559 non-agricultural services and 41,467 out of 50,198 agricultural services. Preliminary estimates put the total financial loss at ₹25.133 lakh.
Srikakulam district was worst-hit with 96 sub-stations, 55 units of 33 KV feeders, 409 units of 11 KV feeders, 115 units of 11 KV poles, 149 LT poles, and 27 distribution transformers sustaining damage. Power supply was disrupted across 962 villages. Authorities mobilised 745 personnel, 52 vehicles, 22 pole-drilling machines, 35 cranes, 400 electrical poles, and 246 transformers for restoration.
In Vizianagaram district, 29 substations, 28 units of 33 KV feeders, 30 units of 11 KV feeders, 47 units of 11 KV poles, 52 LT poles, and 31 distribution transformers were affected. Supply was restored in 297 out of 338 impacted villages. Out of 4,95,983 affected non-agricultural services in Vizianagaram, 4,58,511 were restored, while 35,948 out of 44,320 agricultural services were repaired. Preliminary losses in Vizianagaram were estimated at ₹35 lakh.
Director of Operations T.V. Suryaprakash, Chief General Managers P. Salmon Raju, L. Maheenranath, S. Rajababu, and G. Shyambabu, along with general managers, superintending engineers, and senior officials, rushed to the affected districts and were directly monitoring field operations and coordinating resource allocation. The corporate office control room is continuously reviewing district-wise damage and directing extra resources wherever needed.
The CMD said that agricultural service restoration was proceeding rapidly. However, water stagnation in fields and near infrastructure delayed work in some pockets for safety reasons.
“Staff and officials will work round the clock until power supply returns completely to normal,” the CMD told The Hindu.
Helpline numbers
Citizens have been advised to remain cautious, avoid touching snapped power lines and fallen poles, and immediately report electrical hazards to the toll-free number 1912.
Complaints or queries can be registered at the corporate office number 8331018762; Visakhapatnam Zone-1 — 9490610019; Zone-2 — 9849628880; Zone-3 — 9491030722, Srikakulam — 9701400865, and Vizianagaram — 9490610102.
Published – September 24, 2026 10:10 pm IST
