No spare 10 MVA transformer available as Power Department shifts equipment from another sub-station
Dimapur, July 12: A major transformer failure has left several parts of Dimapur without electricity for more than a day, exposing critical gaps in Nagaland’s power infrastructure and emergency preparedness.
The outage began after a 33/11 kV, 10 MVA transformer at the Supermarket sub-station developed a technical fault on Saturday morning, disrupting power supply to Half Nagarjan, Netaji Colony, Police Colony, Bank Colony, Ura Villa, the Circuit House area and the Supermarket-Naga Shopping Arcade locality.
Officials said restoration was delayed because the Department of Power does not have a spare 10 MVA transformer in stock. The only available spare at the Central Store is a 5 MVA unit, which cannot replace the damaged transformer.
To restore supply, the department has begun shifting a 10 MVA transformer from another sub-station after installing the smaller 5 MVA transformer there. The operation involves moving a 22-tonne transformer using two Hydra cranes, a process officials described as technically complex and time-consuming.
Power officials attributed the breakdown to ageing equipment rather than overloading.
The prolonged outage has disrupted normal life across the affected neighbourhoods, with many households facing water shortages as electric pumps remained idle.
Residents scrambled to arrange generators and alternative water sources after supply failed to return through Saturday night.
The latest blackout has also revived concerns over the reliability of Nagaland’s power infrastructure, particularly in Dimapur and Kohima, where prolonged outages have triggered public protests in recent weeks. Residents of Diphupar in Dimapur and several localities in Kohima had earlier demonstrated against repeated power failures, citing inadequate communication and delays in restoration.
The absence of a spare transformer for the state’s commercial capital has also raised questions about the department’s contingency planning. With restoration now dependent on relocating equipment from another sub-station, consumers fear similar disruptions could recur unless ageing infrastructure is upgraded and critical backup equipment is maintained.
While the department has appealed for public cooperation until power is restored, the incident has once again highlighted the urgent need to modernise Nagaland’s electricity network and strengthen emergency response mechanisms to minimise prolonged outages.
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