Date:31/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/31/stories/2008073159850300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Power surge damages TVs

Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD: About fifty-two television sets, a few refrigerators and computers were damaged at Amberpet when there was a high voltage power surge from the nearby transformer on Tuesday. The incident happened between 10.30 a.m. and 11 a.m. when residents of Pochamma Basthi, Pamula Basthi, Ambedkar Nagar and Dhobhi Galli noticed sparks and fumes emanating from their television sets. Bulbs fused and electronic appliances went off prompting people to switch off their mains.

Officials who inspected the area later explained the incident as the result of a technical snag within the transformer due to which the neutral wire snapped and came into contact with the phase wire.

Load imbalance on the transformer is said to have triggered the problem.

“We conducted enquiry in all the 300 households affected. Damage was limited in many television sets as they had inbuilt mechanism to handle sudden voltage surges. We are on the job of carrying out repairs and replacing damaged fuses. No metres were damaged in the incident,” said Ram Reddy, the Assistant Divisional Engineer of Amberpet division.

Temporary remedial measures were taken to restore the power supply by replacing the defective transformer with a mobile transformer, he explained and assured of a permanent solution soon.