News Tamil Nadu

Chennai Faces Prolonged Power Outage After Manali Substation Fire; Residents Including Those From CM Stalin’s Constituency Suffer,

September 13, 2024
The Commune

On 12 September 2024, Chennai residents endured extended power cuts, with areas like Royapuram, Tiruvottriyur, Kasimedu, Manali, Madhavaram, Egmore, and Purasaiwakkam facing severe disruptions. Initially anticipated to last only a few minutes, the power outage persisted for hours, leaving residents stranded in the sweltering urban environment. Frustration grew as the power failure continued well past the expected restoration time, leading to widespread discontent with the ruling DMK government.

On the 12th September night following a fire at the Manali substation in North Chennai, several parts of the city experienced power disruptions. TANGEDCO Managing Director Rajesh Lakhani stated that the fire originated inside the substation, with fire and rescue services working to extinguish the blaze. He clarified that an overload did not cause the fire, as the power demand was not as high as it typically is during summer.

Lakhani suggested that the incident might have been due to equipment malfunction. He mentioned that power restoration efforts were underway, with 50% of the city’s supply expected to be back online soon, particularly in areas such as RA Puram, Mylapore, and Pulianthope. Teams were also working to establish a bypass line, with the remaining power expected to be restored without significant delay.

Despite these efforts, residents reported prolonged power outages in several neighborhoods. Affected areas ranged from Manali to Mint, including prominent localities like Velachery, Besant Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur, T Nagar, Kodambakkam, Vadapalani, Adyar, Perambur, and those near Chennai Central. The power cuts extended to suburban areas such as Puzhal and Red Hills. Many parts of North and Central Chennai were left in darkness, including major roads like Anna Salai, leading to traffic disruptions at Central and Ripon Building junctions.

Residents of Chief Minister MK Stalin’s own constituency marched to the TNEB office after enduring a prolonged power outage. Frustrated and demanding answers about when the power would be restored, they were reportedly met with threats from the police, who warned they might face charges for their protest.

An enraged resident asked, “Where will we go to sleep? We don’t have a terrace or getting any fresh air, so how can we sleep? In all of this, the patients are suffering. Do you know how much they are suffering?”

Another enraged resident said, “In this, if we call, they (TNEB) are not picking up the phone and there is no response from them. What shall we do with the children? There is still no response from them, and they have said something happened in Manali, but we don’t know yet.” He further stated, “the police have come but speaking on their (TNEB) support. They are saying it will come, but they don’t know when it will be.”

Angry residents reported that the police threatened to arrest them, and many were prepared for such action. One resident harshly criticized TNEB for their strictness in collecting even small overdue amounts, while failing to provide similar service when it was needed. This resident also expressed frustration over rising electricity bills, stating that they never asked for free electricity but now feel burdened by increased charges and inadequate service.

Further, in areas like KK Nagar and Periyamedu, frustrated residents took to the streets to protest against the ongoing power outage. Angry locals voiced their complaints on social media, revealing that the Minnagam helpline number 1912 was unreachable. When residents attempted to call the number twice over a span of two hours, only to receive a message indicating that the number was switched off. Major roads such as Anna Salai and Central experienced severe traffic jams as motorists and two-wheeler riders grappled with poor visibility due to the lack of street lighting.

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