MARGAO
Cyclone Tauktae did not spare anything “ high tension poles, low tension poles, conductors and at some places even transformers, as the squalling winds left dozens of electric poles damaged in Salcete villages on Sunday.
While underground cabling in Margao and Fatorda saved the day for the residents in the commercial capital, Tauktae wrought havoc in Salcete countryside, uprooting and damaging electric poles and snapping power lines, leaving villagers sans power supply since early Sunday morning.
Villages such as Curtorim, Nessai, Navelim and other areas have been the worst hit with teams of power officials on the job to restore power supply.
Around 8-9 high tension poles had come crashing down along the Nessai-Rawanfond-Navelim section, besides an equal number of low tension poles had also come down in this area, leaving areas such as Sao Jose de Areal and parts of Navelim without power.
Given the gigantic nature of the operation to restore power supply and the fact that the uprooting of poles have been reported from almost every sub-division, Assistant Engineer, Kavendra Naik roped in a private crane and a contractor to help and assist the department in the restoration work.
Till evening, the department personnel were on the job to replace and erect the new poles, with officials saying that the work of restoring the power lines will begin thereafter.
The ground situation indicates that power supply is unlikely to be restored to these villages on Sunday night, with officials saying they are doing their best to restore power supply.
At Curtorim, around 6-7 electric poles had come down along with uprooted trees on Sunday morning, leaving many parts without power supply. A senior power officer informed that a major component of a power transformer in Curtorim village had also fallen down due to the strong cyclonic winds.
Executive Engineer Alvito Fernandes told The Goan that the cyclone Tauktae has left the power infrastructure devastated with High Tension, Low Tension poles, besides conductors damaged during the cyclonic winds. “Preliminary reports suggest that a number of electric poles and conductors have been left damaged in the cyclone. Our officials and field staff are all on the ground to restore the power supply. The work is of huge magnitude. It is not only the question of replacing the damaged poles with new ones, but it involves labour to erect the poles and lines,” he added.
Comparatively, Margao and Fatorda enjoyed power supply for most part of the day, barring some minor outages. A senior official said the underground cabling in the commercial capital has saved the day for the citizens as well as the power department on Sunday.
Large parts of Salcete coastal belt from Cavelossim to Colva went without power for most part of Sunday.
Cavelossim Sarpanch Dinisio Dias informed that the tourist village had no power since Saturday night.
He said a number of low tension poles were damaged by uprooted trees. Three cars and a house were also damaged.
Outgoing Colva Sarpanch Anthony Fernandes said Colva village had to go without power supply for major part of Sunday. Till late Sunday evening, the village suffered a blackout.
Benaulim also had to go without power supply on major part of Sunday.
