Efforts on to draw power from Odisha, says AP official

Efforts are being made to draw power from neighbouring Odisha as part of measures to restore power supply in districts of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh which were hit by cyclone Hudhud, a senior official said here today.
"AP power utilities are putting efforts to restore power supply which was drastically disrupted in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts in a phased manner," said state Energy Secretary Ajay Jain.
He said power supply to Visakhapatnam steel plant has been restored, which otherwise could have caused lot of loss of production.
"Four number of towers were collapsed in Vizianagaram and we are trying to restore power within a day or two, which will help to restore power to some parts of Vizianagaram," he said.

As many as 2,500 technical personnel from SPDCL and 500 from Odisha were mobilised for restoration work.
Tamil Nadu government has also sent their technical staff for restoration work, Jain said, adding that as many as 1,000 members are working in Visakhapatnam rural and urban areas and 1,500 members being deployed in Vizianagaram while others are working in Srikakulam for restoration of work.

"All out efforts are being made to restore power supply in Vizianagaram. Power supply (work) in Srikakulam is almost all completed. All the 33/11 kv sub-stations are rectified. Efforts are being taken for drawing power from Odisha government," Jain said.

He said power supply will resume soon in rural areas of Visakhapatnam and restoration of feeder in agency areas will be taken up soon after road routes are cleared.
Cyclone Hudhud made a landfall in Visakhapatnam on Sunday causing massive damage that included uprooting of trees and collapse of transmission lines.