Pune: Incessant rainfall across the city has triggered prolonged power outages, leaving residents in Bavdhan, Ghotawade, Baner, Balewadi, Pisoli, and B.T. Kawade Road struggling in the dark. The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) stated that several substations and transformers were intentionally switched off to prevent accidents caused by severe waterlogging.The worst-hit areas were residential societies and industrial units in Ghotawade, near Mulshi, where the electricity supply has been disrupted for over 48 hours. Anand Ghule, MSEDCL deputy executive engineer for the Mulshi subdivision, noted that heavy rain uprooted entire trees, which collapsed onto overhead cables, snapping supply lines.In other parts of the city, residents endured 10-to-12-hour outages. While many societies have backup generators, the relief was short-lived as sourcing diesel became a challenge due to the weather. Home inverters also proved inadequate, with most batteries draining within two to three hours.In Bavdhan, at least 38 housing societies have been without power since early Monday morning. The blackout left residents unable to pump water to overhead tanks, while smartphones and laptops—essential for those working from home—ran out of charge.Amit Gadgil, a resident of Vallonia Society in Bavdhan, shared his ordeal: “Our inverter died, and my laptop followed soon after. Fortunately, our power banks were charged, so we could keep our phones alive. I even lent a spare power bank to a neighbor so his daughter could attend her online classes.”Bharat Morajkar, a resident of Stargaze Society, added that residents were forced to “ration” their inverter use to ensure they could finish their workdays.In Pisoli, Khurseed Khan of Palm Meadows Society reported a 12-hour outage starting at 2 am Monday. “Obtaining diesel for the generator was a struggle. It wasn’t until 11 am that a member managed to secure enough fuel to run the generator for essential utilities,” Khan said.Meanwhile, residents of B.T. Kawade Road and Sai Shraddha Society reported unstable supply. Tehseen Teerandaz, a resident, recounted: “Supply was restored around 2.30pm, but just as I reached home, I saw sparks flying from a transformer, and the power was cut again.”The crisis extended to Pimpri-Chinchwad, where waterlogging at feeders and substations impacted Dapodi, Bhopkhel, Kasarwadi, and Pimple Saudagar.In the Rajgurunagar division—which encompasses Chakan, Vadgaon Maval, Lonavala, and Talegaon—supply to 569 transformers was suspended. Some shutdowns were strategic; at the request of the NDRF, several 33 kV and 22 kV feeders were turned off to facilitate the rescue of individuals trapped in a building near Ambethan village. Additionally, a switching station in the Bhosari division and feeders in Dehu were closed as water levels reached internal electrical equipment.(Inputs from Mihir Tanksale)
