Power Outages Linger in Yadgir as Flood Damage Stalls Repairs

When the monsoon clouds finally broke over Yadgir district in early May, they brought more than just rain. The downpour turned rural roads into rivers, washed away several bridges and left the region’s power grid in tatters.

Local residents, who have been living without electricity for over a week now, describe the scene as “chaotic”. Small businesses are shuttered, schools are running on dim lanterns, and families are forced to rely on diesel generators that cough out thick smoke.

According to the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation (KPTC), the main culprits are the flooded substations at Yadgir town and the adjoining taluks of Shahabad and Shorapur. “The water levels rose faster than our emergency protocols could handle,” said senior engineer Ramesh Kumar, who has been on the ground since the floods began.

Repair crews face a daunting task. The primary access road to the substation, NH-50, is still submerged in knee‑deep water, and several wooden bridges that once connected the repair teams to the site have collapsed. “We’re trying to set up temporary Bailey bridges, but each one takes days to construct, and the weather isn’t helping,” Kumar added.

In the meantime, the state government has dispatched additional troops and heavy‑duty equipment to clear debris. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai visited the affected area on Wednesday, assuring citizens that “no stone will be left unturned” until power is fully restored.

Despite the assurances, the reality on the ground remains grim. Some villages are still receiving less than 30 % of their usual power supply, and the restoration timeline keeps shifting. “We were told power would be back in three days. It’s now ten, and we’re still in the dark,” said Shanti Devi, a resident of Kabarigere.

Experts warn that climate‑induced extreme weather events could become more frequent, putting additional strain on aging infrastructure. “We need to invest in flood‑resilient designs for substations and improve our emergency response mechanisms,” suggested Dr. Anil Patel, a researcher at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bangalore.

For now, the people of Yadgir are making do. Community kitchens have been set up, NGOs are distributing lanterns, and neighbors are sharing the few generators that are still operational. The hope is that, once the waters recede and the roads are cleared, the lights will finally flicker back on.