Title - Northern grid failure: Punjab faces water scarcity, trains hit

The complete power blackout in seven states across Northern India after the northern gird failed at about 2.32 am, not only affected a majority of cities in Punjab but also disrupted rail services in the state. Most cities in the state faced acute water shortage due to lack of proper co-ordination between the power and the municipal corporations. In most domestic areas of Punjab, power was restored after about 10 -15 hours while for the agriculture sector, it was still being restored while this report was being filed.

In industrial areas, electricity was restored after 12-15 hours but industry has pegged its loss at more than Rs 500 crore. BSNL internet services and other private services remained disrupted after back-ups failed to support the load.

At the Ferozepur rail division, three trains came to a halt when the grid failed while 15 electric trains had to be run on diesel. The Mail Express, Hirakund Express and the Jammu Mail travelling from Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar routes respectively, stopped midway, while the Shatabadi Express, Jan Shatabadi, Jhelum Express, Duronto Express, Nanded Express, Paschim Express, among other trains had to be run on diesel.

Senior divisional manager, Ferozepur division, MMS Meena said: “ The trains got delayed ranging from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Our teams were quick in supplying diesel to the electric run trains which run on Sahnewal, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar routes.”

While the railways has suffered from grid failure earlier in 2008 and 2010, this is the first time in a decade that it has taken more than 10 hours to restore power.Hospitals weren’t affected with authorities stating that they made use of generator sets. In Ludhiana, industries in Focal Point could not run their units till 3 pm. Night shifts of continuous supply units came to a halt while industrialists said online transactions were also disrupted.

Power restored to only half of Haryana

Nearly 16 hours after the power blackout hit the country’s northern region, power could be restored to only 50 per cent of Haryana by Monday evening. Rail traffic was the worst hit in the state, while industries and hospitals in many districts were severely affected.

As many as nine passenger trains were cancelled, while 27 trains were delayed, some for nearly four hours. According to the railway officials, two trains were terminated for a short period.

One Express train was diverted and with 17 mail trains reaching Ambala Cantonment Station late, passengers had a harrowing time. The nine passenger trains, which were cancelled had been running between Ambala-Kurukshetra, Ambala-Nangal, Ambala-Amritsar, Ambala-Delhi, Saharanpur-Ludhiana

The Amrapali Express was diverted via Jakhal to Delhi. The Jan Sewa Express running between Amritsar and Saharsa arrived late by 6.45 hours while the Dadar Express was late by 6 hours. The Amritsar-New Delhi Superfast and the New Delhi- Kalka Superfast were late by 4.40 and 4.30 hours respectively. Ambala Railway Divisional Manager Pradep Gandhi said that a total of 27 trains including express trains were affected. A few of the the electric trains had to be run by pressing diesel engines into service.

Civil hospitals across the state, had a harrowing time. Even hospitals with power backup were affected due to the length of the shutdown.

According to state government’s power utilities, supply in 50 per cent area of the state was restored by evening and around 80 per cent of the area should receive power by midnight.

“Strenuous efforts were made by Haryana Power Utilities to restore the supply which was extended to Panipat Thermal Power Station (PTPS) unit-I to IV and Western Jamuna Canal Power Station (WJCPS) from Bhakra Beas Management Board at 8 am. The supply to railway was restored at 8.10 am and that of essential feeders started to restore at 8 am,” a state government spokesperson said.