Rain, storm plunge Tamil Nadu areas into darkness

Chennai: With cyclonic wind speed crossing 100 km per hour, the Chennai city and adjoining districts witnessed a total power outage with critical source 230 kV substations getting tripped following problems in transmission lines, said electricity minister P. Thangamani on Monday. However, the minister assured that the power supply would be restored in the city by tonight while the Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram would get supply only by Tuesday evening due to extensive damages to poles and transformers.

Speaking to reporters after reviewing the power situation following cyclone Vardah here at Tangedco headquarters here, he said that the city witnessed outage after the 230 kV source substation at North Chennai, Tondiarpet, Mylapore, Taramani and Manali got tripped. As many as over 30 substations of 33 kV class also got repaired in the cyclone Vardah that landed near Pulicat in Tiruvallur district causing extensive damages in the coastal districts. Over 3000 poles were damaged in the cyclonic winds.