12 October,2020 10:36 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Photo used for representational purpose. Pic/AFP
Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane were hit by a massive power failure on Monday. The unprecedented power cut was reported in several parts after 10 am. All the power companies - MahaVitaran, Adani, Tata and BEST - confirmed the development. Several suburban trains on the central line and the western line have been suspended. Traffic signals have also been affected due to electricity failure.
The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) said, "Due to grid failure, the supply of power in the city is disrupted."
"The electric supply is interrupted due to TATAs incoming electric supply failure. Inconveniences is regretted," it posted on Twitter.
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"At 10.10 am there were simultaneous substation tripping in MSETCL's Kalwa, Kharghar causing a huge dip in frequency in Mumbai transmission system which led to tripping of power supply. Restoration work in progress to bring supply from the 3 Hydro units & Trombay units," said Tata Power.
Sources said it was following multiple tripping of lines and transformer (Kalwa-Padghe and Khargar ICTs) supplying power to the Mumbai system.
There was maintenance work on due to which one line had been isolated and the load shifted on the other line, which developed a snag, sources said.
A Western Railway statement said, "In view of interruption in traction power at 10.05 hrs due to grid failure of Tata Power company, services between Churchgate and Borivili are suspended. It shall be resumed as soon as the traction power supply is restored."
However, Power supply, from MSETCL available at Vasai Road and it has been extended to work essential suburban trains between Borivili to Virar section. "Efforts are on to start services in Churchgate-Borivali section. The commuters are requested not to panic," an official said.
The Central Railway trains are also held up due to grid failure. However, trains in Roha-Diva-JNPT sections are running, officials said.
Hapless commuters at many locations jumped down and started walking down to the nearest suburban railway station.
Efforts were on to restore the supply at the earliest, said an official from the Energy Department.
"Due to a technical glitch in Circuit 2 of the Kalva-Padghe powerhouse, the regions between Thane and Mumbai are facing a power cut. Our staff is working on it and power will be restored in an hour or 45 minutes," said Maharashtra Energy Minister Nitin Raut.
In a statement, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal told the hospitals to reach out to disaster control room for help.
"All the hospitals to contact their respective SWM transport GARAGE officers to get enough supply of diesel for at least eight hours so that there is no power failures in hospitals especially ICUs. In case of any issues please contact disaster control room for help. CE SWM to coordinate this," the statement read.
"Disaster control and CE M&E To keep stand bye private MOBILE DG SET vehicles handy within next one hour in case power failure continues beyond two hours. Please report to Shri. Narvekar or smt. Sangita Lokhande at DM Control about this every half an hour," it further added
In an official tweet, Adani Electricity said it is supplying power to critical services.
Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam tweeted, "Almost total power black out in Mumbai due to major grid failure."
Several residents took to Twitter and complained of a sudden electricity outage in several parts of the metropolis.
Trains between CSMT-Panvel on Harbour Line have resumed. "We're trying to restore services between CSMT-Kalyan, CSMT-Karjat/Kasara. Long-distance trains from Mumbai rescheduled, and incoming trains regulated at interchange points, said CPRO, Central Railway.
In view of interruption in Traction power at 10:05 am due to grid failure of Tata Power company, five long distance trains of Western Railways are affected.
1) 09025 Bandra terminus- Amritsar clone special train which departs at 11:15 AM is rescheduled to depart at 1 PM.
2) 02925 Bandra terminus- Amritsar Pashchim Express which departs at 12 Noon is rescheduled to depart at 1:15 PM.
3) 02933 Ahmedabad- Mumbai Central Karnavati Express will be short terminated at Borivali and will depart from Borivali as 02934
4) 09115 Sayaji Nagri Express will be short terminated at Borivali station and will depart from Borivali as 09116
5) 02480 Bandra terminus- Jodhpur Surya Nagri Express which departs at 1:30 PM is rescheduled to depart at 2:30 PM.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray spoke to state Power Minister Nitin Raut and BMC Commissioner. He gave directions for its restoration as soon as possible. Raut said after restoration of electricity, reasons behind the outage will be probed.
The civic body is closely monitoring the status at all private and government hospitals, to ensure that their services continue unhindered, even in the dearth of power supply.
The power supply to railways is restored. Power to other emergency services like Hospitals are also being restored, tweets Energy Minister Nitin Raut.
(With inputs from Rajendra B Aklekar)
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