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India’s 7 states plunge into darkness as Northern Grid collapsed: Report

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New Delhi, July 31, IRNA -- India’s seven states plunged into darkness for 8-9 hours as Northern Grid collapses on Monday at 0200 hours (IST) Indian Standard Time. Around 370 million people were affected.

The Northern Grid, which caters to about 28 per cent of the country's population, covers nine regions -- Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, J ammu and Kashmir and Chandigarh, collapsed due to the technical failure near Agra.

Sixty percent of power has been restored in Northern India after the grid failure last-night affecting normal life in eight northern states including Capital Delhi as they went powerless for almost eight hours due to the collapse of the Grid.

The Grid would be completely restored in the next two hours, said Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde. 'We have set up a three-member committee to look into the collapse of the Northern Power Grid. The panel will submit its report in the next 15 days,' Shinde told reporters in New Delhi.

On the possible reasons for the collapse, the Minister said they would be known once the panel submits the report.

Responding to a query on whether over-drawal by states led to the grid's failure, Shinde said, 'It cannot be said whether over drawing by states is one of the reasons or there is any other reason. The panel will find out.

'Right now, we are getting additional 8,000 MW hydro power, including from Bhutan, to meet our demand.' The northern region is getting power from the Eastern and Western grids, he added.

A major collapse of the Northern Grid had happened in 2001-02, he said. There was a failure due to fog moisture in January 2010.

The normal frequency at which electricity is transmitted through the Northern Grid ranges from 48.5 to 50.2 Hz. At the time of the collapse around 2.35 AM, the grid frequency was 50.46 Hz, a few notches above normal. This could have tripped the supply, Shinde said.

Earlier, last night capital Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh plunged into darkness at around 2 AM.

Rail services in the Northern India were badly hit and several trains halted in their tracks due to the failure of power grid.

Railway officials said the train movement was affected in seven divisions -- Delhi, Ambala, Agra, Jhansi, Allahabad, Moradabad and Kota. 'Around 200 trains were affected,' they said.

Some trains were stranded mid way as the electric engines hauling them came to a halt due to failure of power at about 2.30 AM.

The official said that the signal system had also blanked at a number of places due to the power failure.

Situation in national Capital Delhi was especially worse as people were left stranded due to the halt of metro services.

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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 80254135