Sangrur, April 19— Three people were killed in Friday after a powerful storm swept through parts of Punjab’s Malwa region, causing widespread destruction in Sangrur, Bathinda, Barnala, and Patiala. Sangrur district suffered the most, with major damage to power infrastructure and property, officials said on Saturday.
According to Sangrur’s Additional Deputy Commissioner Amit Bamby, nine 220 KV transmission towers collapsed in the district alone, with more falling in other parts. “The damage was very much. We lost nine 220 KV towers and several others across different sites,” he noted.
Three deaths were reported in Sangrur—two in Dhuri and one in Bhawanigarh. Charan Singh, a resident of Dhuri, died after a tree fell on him, while Pritpal Singh Vaid, 52, succumbed to injuries when an electricity pole collapsed during his commute. In a separate incident, Gurcharan Singh from Majha village in Bhawanigarh died after a poultry farm shed collapsed. The structure also killed approximately 1,500 chickens, officials said.
“All three were rushed to Dhuri Civil Hospital but could not survive,” said Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Rishi. “Three others — Nardeep Singh, Bhola Singh, and Jiwa Singh — are under treatment at the same hospital. Their condition is stable.”
Beyond the human toll, the storm left Sangrur’s power infrastructure in disarray. A superintendent from the power department, requesting anonymity, reported the damage of around 1,200 electricity poles and 200 transformers of 11 KV capacity. The financial loss from this alone is estimated at ₹1.5 crore.
The Bhawanigarh area saw the collapse of three 220 KV towers, while another eight 66 KV towers were damaged elsewhere in the district. “Three were hit near the Sangrur-Patiala bypass, and five near Bhalwan,” said XEN Jasbir Singh from the transmission line division. He placed the loss at ₹1.25 crore.
“Power supply has been almost restored through alternate lines, but complete restoration may take four to five days,” Singh added.
Authorities are also examining the storm’s impact on agriculture. ADC Bamby said assessments were underway in grain markets, and compensation will be provided to affected farmers. “If any farmer has suffered a loss, the administration will ensure they are compensated appropriately,” he said.
