Sri Vijaya Puram, June 5: The Andaman and Nicobar Administration has deputed a special team of senior officials to Middle Andaman to closely monitor and address the ongoing power crisis affecting Mayabunder and Tugapur, where residents have been facing scheduled power cuts following a major breakdown at the Panighat Hiring Power Plant.
According to the Electricity Department, the disruption began on May 31 after two 1500 KVA diesel generator (DG) sets at the Panighat power station developed technical faults, significantly reducing the plant’s generation capacity. The failure resulted in a power deficit of around 800 kilowatts, forcing authorities to introduce rotational transformer-wise power cuts of two hours in the affected areas.
The Administration stated that the deployment of the special monitoring team was undertaken under the directions of senior authorities to ensure quicker restoration of services and to oversee repair and contingency operations on the ground. The team is being led by the Director (Power), accompanied by the Superintending Engineer (Technical) of the Electricity Department.
The breakdown has impacted domestic consumers, businesses and government establishments across Mayabunder and nearby Tugapur, with residents experiencing intermittent supply interruptions over the past several days.
Officials said immediate restoration efforts were launched following the generator failure. One of the damaged 1500 KVA DG sets was repaired and successfully restarted on June 2 at around 7 pm. However, the generator reportedly suffered another technical fault after operating for nearly three hours, forcing engineers to halt operations and resume troubleshooting.
The Electricity Department subsequently initiated emergency measures to bridge the generation gap. Among these efforts was the diversion of power from the Kalpong Hydro Electric Project (KHEP) in Diglipur, the only hydroelectric power station in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
While approximately 600 kW of electricity is being sourced from KHEP, officials said maintaining a stable supply has proven challenging. The long transmission route between Diglipur and Mayabunder passes through dense forest areas, making the network vulnerable to frequent line faults, particularly during adverse weather conditions. These faults have led to intermittent disruptions and limited the effectiveness of the alternative arrangement.
To expedite restoration, essential spare parts required for repairing one of the affected DG sets were transported to the Panighat site and arrived on the evening of June 3. Technical teams have since been engaged in round-the-clock repair and rectification work.
The Administration said the repair operation has been undertaken on a war footing, with engineers and support staff working continuously to bring the generator back into service. Officials expressed optimism that the repaired DG set would be operational by the evening of June 5, which is expected to significantly ease the power deficit and help normalize electricity supply across the affected regions.
The current situation has highlighted the challenges of maintaining reliable power generation in geographically dispersed island territories, where logistical constraints and dependence on a limited number of generating units can quickly translate into widespread disruptions.
Power infrastructure in remote areas such as Middle Andaman relies heavily on diesel-based generation systems, making the availability and maintenance of critical equipment essential for uninterrupted service.
Meanwhile, the Electricity Department has expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to consumers. In its statement, the department acknowledged the difficulties faced by households, commercial establishments, Panchayati Raj Institution members and government offices due to the ongoing shortage.
Authorities also thanked residents and public representatives for their patience and cooperation while restoration efforts continue. Officials said updates would be provided as repair works progress and normal supply is restored.
