Ranchi: Heavy rain and lightning caused limited disruption to the city’s power supply on Monday, with Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Ltd (JBVNL) reporting largely stable services across its urban network.Official data showed that 60 of Ranchi’s 174 urban feeders recorded no power cuts. While 87 feeders faced interruptions lasting less than an hour, outages of between one and three hours were reported on 27 feeders.Officials said response teams remained on alert throughout the spell, monitoring feeder-wise complaints and dispatching repair crews wherever faults were reported. No major disturbance to the grid occurred during the rain.JBVNL attributed the relatively stable supply to its pre-monsoon preparations.“Preventive maintenance played a major role. We ensured timely pruning of branches that could have damaged power lines during the rain and checked loose connections to prepare the network for monsoon,” said Manmohan Kumar, general manager of JBVNL’s Ranchi supply area.The discom has also tightened safety protocols for field staff and directed teams to restore supply quickly after completing repairs.“Linemen have been instructed to wear all protective gear while working in the rain, including raincoats, gloves, helmets and gumboots. If residents see anyone working without protective equipment, they should immediately alert the department. Safety comes first,” Kumar said.JBVNL also issued an advisory asking residents to stay away from electricity poles and transformers during thunderstorms, as lightning and electrical surges could pose a danger. People were also warned against entering waterlogged areas near electrical installations because of the risk of electrocution.“People should avoid touching plugs and switches at home during thunderstorms. Any voltage fluctuation should immediately be reported to local engineers,” Kumar added.
