Storm leads to massive power outages in Delhi, all transmission lines trip

The national capital reeled under massive outages as all major power lines and electricity generating stations were damaged by a powerful thunder storm that hit the city and its neigbourgood this evening.

All major power transmission lines of the Northern Grid through which Delhi receives power from other states tripped in the storm.

The storm hit the city at 4:58 PM and most areas plunged into darkness immediately as uprooted trees snapped power lines.

Metro train services were disrupted on almost all lines for about an hour due to power failure during the evening rush time.

Power department officials said the lines which tripped included a number of 400 kilo vault lines including Dadari-Mandola line, Ballabhgarh-Bamnauli line and Jhatikara-Mundaka network.

Power generation was affected at all the generating plants in the city including Rajghat power house, Pragati Power Station and three units of Badarpur Thermal Power Station.

"A maximum load up to around 3000 MW was affected. The lines which tripped include lines of both northern grid as well as of Delhi Transco," said a senior Power Department official.
Power supply could not be restored in many areas till late in the evening.

Delhi government's power department as well as private discoms deployed hundreds of their technical staff to restore power supply.

The official said the power supply network is likely to be restored by early tomorrow in some areas.