Photo Source; Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh faces power disruptions after storm triggers 182 breakdowns; Restoration underway (Pics Inside)
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, January 23, 2026:Severe weather lashed Chandigarh on Thursday, disrupting electricity supply across several parts of the city as strong winds and continuous rainfall caused heavy damage to the power distribution network.
According to Chandigarh Power Distribution Limited (CPDL), the city recorded wind speeds of up to 74 km/h along with around 13 mm of rainfall, leading to widespread faults and breakdowns. CPDL said the extreme conditions created significant mechanical stress on overhead power lines, resulting in snapping of conductors, pole damage, and repeated tripping on multiple feeders.
Tree Falls Major Cause Behind Outages
CPDL said uprooted trees and falling branches were the biggest reason behind disruptions, as they landed on overhead lines and damaged poles and conductors. Due to this, repeated faults were reported on 11 kV, 33 kV, and 66 kV overhead feeders.
During the day, CPDL recorded 182 breakdowns and 34 transient faults, while 37 electric poles were reported broken.
CPDL Teams Work on War Footing
CPDL said restoration work was launched on a war footing, with multiple teams deployed across the city despite rough conditions. While power was restored in most areas, a few pockets faced longer outages due to the severity of damage.
The utility also highlighted that the restoration process was slowed down by:
- Heavy cloud cover (around 94%) and low visibility
- Waterlogging and slippery roads, delaying access to sites
- Challenges in fault detection and safe crane operations
Key Areas Affected
Heavy rain and strong winds also led to tripping of both incoming circuits from Mohali to Sector-39, causing outages in parts of Chandigarh including Sector-39, Sector-12, Water Works, and PGIMER.
CPDL said its emergency response system was activated immediately, load changeover operations were carried out, and teams were sent for extensive patrolling and repair work.
Major Restoration Challenge at Sector-37 Grid
CPDL faced major technical hurdles at the 33 kV Sector-37 Grid Sub-Station, as well as 33 kV Sector-34 and 33 kV Sector-18, due to repeated faults triggered by tree obstructions along feeder routes.
Teams carried out sectional isolation, tree clearance, patrolling, and corrective repairs, following which the feeder was energised and power restoration was done in a phased manner to ensure safety and system stability.
Power Supply Expected to Normalise Soon
CPDL said several high-voltage circuits remained stable during the disruption and are now being used for load balancing and faster restoration. Electricity supply is being restored in a controlled manner and is expected to return to normal shortly.
Residents have been requested to cooperate and remain patient while restoration continues, as CPDL reiterated its commitment to ensuring safe and reliable power supply across Chandigarh.