Power utilities told to brace for Cyclone Murasu

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With Cyclone Murasu posing a threat to the State, Special Chief Secretary (Energy) K. Vijayanand has directed power utilities to take foolproof precautionary measures to safeguard electricity infrastructure and remain fully prepared to undertake restoration works on a war footing in the event of any disruption.

Reviewing the weather situation and the preparedness of the power sector through a teleconference on Sunday, Mr. Vijayanand instructed the utilities to maintain adequate stocks of essential materials, including poles, conductors and transformers, and strategically position sufficient manpower, vehicles and machinery in vulnerable areas.

He also stressed the need to identify cyclone-prone locations in advance and coordinate closely with the district administration to ensure all necessary precautionary, safety and relief measures.

Officials informed the Special Chief Secretary that the depression over the Bay of Bengal was likely to intensify into a deep depression and subsequently into Cyclone Murasu. The India Meteorological Department had forecast that the system would intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay by November 2 and cross the coast near Bapatla on the morning of November 3.

They said moderate to heavy rainfall, with isolated instances of very heavy rainfall, was likely over the south and central coastal districts on November 2. Strong winds and heavy rainfall were expected to pose a threat to power infrastructure, particularly electricity poles.

APTransco Joint Managing Director G. Surya Sai Praveenchand, DISCOMs’ CMDs I. Prudhvi Tej, L. Siva Sankar and P. Pulla Reddy, APTransco Director (Grid) A.K.V. Bhaskar and other senior officials were present.

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