Power supply restored in Kishtwar after 11 days
Raju William
Tribune News Service

Udhampur, May 31
After 11 days of blackout on account of failure of power supply, residents of Kishtwar yesterday evening heaved a sigh of relief with its restoration.

Government offices, business establishments, banks, hospitals and clinics were back to normal.

The system delivering basic amenities, most importantly the drinking water supply, also started functioning effectively. The atmosphere was recharged in the educational institutions, especially the schools which were put to a great inconvenience.

Mobile telephone connectivity which had suffered due to lack of recharging of batteries too became normal.“The power supply was restored yesterday evening,” confirmed SP, Kishtwar, Dr Mohammad Haseeb Mughal.

It is pertinent to mention that the pitch-dark conditions all these days had made the civil and police administration of the district apprehend a breakdown of law and order, which might have arisen due to increasing frustration and anger among public.

The police authorities did not rule out a possible exploitation of the situation by anti-national elements.

The situation had come to this pass as 132 KV power transmission tower feeding the entire district had collapsed near Pul Doda on May 17. It was finally put back in place by the NHPC after working relentlessly all these days. The situation could not be alleviated in terms of making temporary arrangements due to the difficult terrain and dense forest where the tower was located.

PRO, NHPC, Ramesh Sharma informed that supply could have been restored within three days but the adamant Forest Department did not allow the cutting of some trees to facilitate temporary arrangements.