Chandigarh, Sept 8 — With power supply still disrupted in most flood-affected villages of Punjab, the state’s electricity utility has pegged its initial losses at Rs 50 crore across 12 districts. Officials of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) cautioned that the figure is likely to rise once floodwaters fully recede and a detailed survey is conducted.
A senior PSPCL official said the damage is extensive and restoration will only be possible after the water levels go down to avoid any risk of electrocution. “We will be able to restore regular power supply once the water recedes and all precautions are taken to avoid danger of electrocution,” the official said.
The worst-hit region is the border zone, where equipment worth around Rs 25 crore has been damaged. According to officials, more than 6,500 electricity poles, 2,300 transformers, 7,500 km of transmission conductors and 22 substations have been affected. Office infrastructure, buildings, furniture and other material have also suffered losses.
In the central zone alone, damages worth over Rs 8 crore have been reported. Around 140 transformers were rendered non-functional, 225 poles were damaged, and nearly 13 km of overhead electrical wires were impacted.
The current losses already dwarf last year’s floods, when PSPCL reported infrastructure damage worth Rs 16 crore in 2023. Officials warned that this year’s destruction could climb significantly higher as waterlogging continues in large parts of the state.
Earlier, the Punjab government had pegged overall flood losses at Rs 13,289 crore, citing large-scale destruction of property, farmland and public infrastructure. The state has been pressing the Centre for a special relief package to compensate affected people and to repair roads, bridges and power networks.
