The callousness of the state Power Department was exposed when nearly 45 schoolchildren had a close shave as a 11-KV transmission wire fell on their school bus on Pondha Road yesterday.
However, no casualty was reported as the transmission lines were tripped at the sub-station. But the incident has raised several questions on Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) officials’ tall claim that they change rusted and obsolete electricity poles regularly in the department.
The UPCL officials claimed that the high-tension transmission wire fell on the school bus that had broken due to the falling of tree branches on the wire.
Meanwhile, the rusted and damaged electricity poles were posing a threat to the safety of residents at several places in the city.
The UPCL officials should check the condition of the electric poles regularly, particularly after rain in low lying areas and snowfall in the higher reaches of the state, to avoid any untoward incident.
Residents said the rusted poles, which were severally damaged during heavy rains, were seen standing precariously with little grip in various colonies of the city.
Madhusudan, an official spokesperson for the UPCL, rebuffed the charges that changing of rusted and obsolete electricity poles had been delayed in same parts of the city for any reason.
He said the replacement of damaged poles was a continuous process and 126 electricity poles had been changed in various parts of the city in the last one year.
“We are taking all measures to prevent accidents and avoid inconvenience to the public due to damaged electricity poles,” he said.
Residents had been requested to share information on damaged, rusted or tilted electric poles with the nearby electricity office for immediate action, he stated.
Anita Bhatia, a resident of Premnagar, expressed concern over the delay in changing of the damaged electricity poles by UPCL.
She said the department staff should replace the uprooted and damaged poles and arrange support for single poles. The field staff should also clear the tree branches to reduce weight on the electric poles and prevent short circuits, she added.
However, no casualty was reported as the transmission lines were tripped at the sub-station. But the incident has raised several questions on Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) officials’ tall claim that they change rusted and obsolete electricity poles regularly in the department.
The UPCL officials claimed that the high-tension transmission wire fell on the school bus that had broken due to the falling of tree branches on the wire.
Meanwhile, the rusted and damaged electricity poles were posing a threat to the safety of residents at several places in the city.
The UPCL officials should check the condition of the electric poles regularly, particularly after rain in low lying areas and snowfall in the higher reaches of the state, to avoid any untoward incident.
Residents said the rusted poles, which were severally damaged during heavy rains, were seen standing precariously with little grip in various colonies of the city.
Madhusudan, an official spokesperson for the UPCL, rebuffed the charges that changing of rusted and obsolete electricity poles had been delayed in same parts of the city for any reason.
He said the replacement of damaged poles was a continuous process and 126 electricity poles had been changed in various parts of the city in the last one year.
“We are taking all measures to prevent accidents and avoid inconvenience to the public due to damaged electricity poles,” he said.
Residents had been requested to share information on damaged, rusted or tilted electric poles with the nearby electricity office for immediate action, he stated.
Anita Bhatia, a resident of Premnagar, expressed concern over the delay in changing of the damaged electricity poles by UPCL.
She said the department staff should replace the uprooted and damaged poles and arrange support for single poles. The field staff should also clear the tree branches to reduce weight on the electric poles and prevent short circuits, she added.
