Dust storm leaves city without power, water; trees uprooted

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 22

A high-velocity dusty wind, which hit the city, left residents of many sectors without power and water supply for hours together. The trees were also uprooted in Sectors 9 and 16. Besides, electricity poles also got tilted and fell in Sectors 3 and 4.

There was power cut after branches of trees fell on the electricity wires. The affected sectors were 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 41, 44, Burail, 37, 38, 39, 40, Mani Majra, Industrial area and parts of villages.

The power cuts ranged between one and seven hours in many sectors. The Electricity Department received 550 calls regarding power cuts on Saturday. Many residents complained that they could not get through to the complaint centre as the phone remained busy most of the time.

Rajinder Pandey, a resident of Sector 44, said there was no power supply in their area for nearly two hours. Besides, the complaint centre’s number remained busy, he said.

The water supply in Sector 45, Burail and Ram Darbar also got affected as there was no power backup in tubewells, which supply water in the area.

The residents complained that they could not get through to the complaint centre as the phone remained busy most of the time.

UT Superintending Engineer (Electricity) MP Singh said the department began restoring power supply soon after the storm was over in many affected areas.