Bescom suffers Rs 7-crore loss in pre-monsoon rain

The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) suffered losses to the tune of Rs seven crore between April 1 and May 23, 2015, due to damages caused by pre-monsoon rainfall. 

Uprooting of trees at many places after the rainfall led to electricity poles breaking, conductors snapping and incidents of short circuits, according to Bescom officials. Bescom statistics show that in the Bangalore Metropolitan Area Zone (BMAZ) alone, the financial loss was Rs 2.13 crore, with the south zone alone accounting for a loss of Rs 1.91 crore. In the east zone, the loss was Rs 36.65 lakh, in the west zone Rs 50.72 lakh and in the north zone Rs 25.37 lakh. 

A total of 888 electricity poles were damaged: 156 in the east zone, 120 in the west, 147 in the north and 465 in the south. The total number of DTC (Direct Torque Control) cables damaged were 270: 59 in the east, 34 in the west, 89 in the north and 88 in the south. In Bengaluru Rural Circle (BRC) which covers Yelahanka and Nelamangala, the financial loss has been pegged at Rs 1.23 crore as 664 electricity poles fell and 292 DTC cables were damaged. 

In Bengaluru Rural Area Zone (BRAZ) which covers Ramanagar, Kolar and Chikkabalapur, the loss was Rs 203.82 lakh as 941 electricity poles and 226 DTC cables were damaged. The most damage was in the Ramanagar region where 429 electricity poles and 72 DTC cables were damaged. In Kolar, 367 electricity poles and 123 DTC cables were damaged. In Chikkabalapur, 145 electricity poles and 31 DTC cables were damaged. 

In Chitradurga circle which covers Tumakuru, Chitradurga and Davangere, 864 poles and 17 DTC cables were damaged, resulting in a loss of Rs 152.23 lakh. According to Bescom estimates, 1,512 trees and branches fell in the whole circle: 547 in BMAZ, 357 in BRC, 333 in BRAZ and 275 in Chitradurga circle. Bescom Managing Director Pankaj Kumar Pandey has assured the public that sufficient staff and materials were being used to handle the calamities and restore power at the earliest. In case of complaints, people can send SMS to 58888.