Power cut hits Ahmedabad

The threat of Cyclone Phet to Gujarat has receded, but the humidity had Amdavadis soaking in sweat. Only a power cut, which is very rare, could have made it worse - and it did. Nearly 60% of Ahmedabad faced a blackout for two to three hours on Friday afternoon. The inconvenience was caused because of a technical hitch in Torrent Power operations. While some areas, like Vastrapur, CG road, Ashram road and Bopal, witnessed interrupted power supply, others had to deal with a blackout for as long as three hours.   

“The power cut that affected about 50-60% of Ahmedabad was because of a technical fault,” said an official of Torrent Power.It was only later in the evening that Torrent Power could trace the exact cause of the power cut. The company said in a statement that it was a breakdown in the 132kv overhead line in the Sabarmati area which resulted in tripping of all the generating stations of the company’s Sabarmati power plant.“Power was restored immediately at airport, hospitals and other critical installations in the city. Power supply to various other parts of the city was restored by 7.15 pm,” a statement by Torrent Power said.The power cut started around 3.30 pm in many areas. “I came home from office at around 4 pm but there was no power. I stay at tenth floor but elevators were not working. I had to stay downstairs till 5.30 in the evening,” said 62-year-old trader, Suresh Mehta of Satellite Apartments near Vastrapur.