Special Correspondent
Pune: A fire caused by burning grass near the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) 400/220 KV ultra-high voltage substation in Talegaon led to tripping in the Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company’s (Mahapareshan) Talegaon-Lonikand 400 KV tower line at 3:05 PM on Saturday (March 15). This resulted in a transmission shortfall of 346 MW, triggering the automatic Load Trimming Scheme (LTS), which led to the disconnection of 80 power lines supplying electricity through Mahavitaran.
The power outage affected approximately 2.49 lakh consumers in areas including Pimpri-Chinchwad, Chakan MIDC, Bhosari town and MIDC, and Manchar rural areas for about an hour.
The Talegaon-Lonikand 400 KV tower line, operated by Mahapareshan, tripped after unknown individuals set fire to grass beneath the 400 KV tower line within Adani’s operational area near the PGCIL substation. The resulting smoke contained moisture, leading to the disruption in the power transmission system.
Following the tripping incident, Mahapareshan activated its automatic Load Trimming Scheme (LTS) to prevent further transmission failures. This led to power supply interruptions from several 220 KV ultra-high voltage substations, including Chakan 400 KV, Chakan, Chinchwad, Bhosari, , Theur, and Kathapur.
Due to the activation of LTS, the outage affected industrial and residential consumers across multiple locations:
Chakan MIDC, Shindegaon, Savardari, Varale, Vasuli, Yelwadi, Khalumbre, Sangurdi, MIDC Phase 2, Bhamboli, Kuruli, Nane Karwadi, Chimboli, Nighoje, Sara City, Alandi Phata, Moi.
Pimpri-Chinchwad city, Bhosari town and MIDC, Jai Ganesh Samrajya, Kiwale, Tathawade, Rahatni, Thergaon, Nigdi, Pradhikaran, Nashik Road, Indrayaninagar, and several areas in Manchar and Narayangaon.
Other affected villages: Kesnand, Avhalwadi, Perne, Theur, Vadti, Kunjirwadi, Loni Kalbhor, Soratpwadi, Fursungi, Uruli Devachi.
Approximately 800 high-voltage and 4,000 low-voltage industrial consumers and 35,000 domestic and commercial consumers faced power cuts from 3:05 PM to 4:05 PM.
Upon detecting the tripping incident, Mahapareshan engineers and staff conducted an urgent inspection at the affected site. Investigations confirmed that burning grass beneath the tower line had caused the failure. The fire was immediately extinguished, and after verifying the tower line’s condition, the power supply was restored within an hour.
