Tangedco is replacing electric poles damaged by strong winds in Tiruvannamalai

Tangedco officials said 55 new electric poles have replaced the damaged poles in Kannamangalam substation limits. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Tangedco on Saturday replaced 55 electric poles that were damaged due to strong winds in Kannamangalam and nearby farming villages in Tiruvannamalai.

Tangedco officials said farming villages like Kalasamuthiram, Kongarampattu, Kolathur, Andipalayam, Kuppam and Kannamangalam witnessed regular evening rains with strong winds. Most of the land in these villages is cultivated in rice paddies. “Unplanned power outages, especially after wind damage to electricity poles affected agriculture as farmers were unable to operate motor pumps to irrigate their land,” said G. Muthu, a farmer.

Against this backdrop, many farming villages along the Cheyyar river near Arani and Polur towns witnessed heavy winds and rain. Tangedco officials said at least 60-70 electric poles were damaged. Most of the electricity pylons are located on agricultural land and village roads.

Each electricity pole, which costs ₹2,950, measures approximately 30 feet in height. To avoid interruption of power supply in agricultural villages, Tangedco officials said 55 new electric poles have replaced the damaged poles in Kannamangalam substation limits, which have around 45,000 consumers.

Currently, Kannamangalam and surrounding agricultural villages have around 2,500 electric poles. Tangedco officials said the strong winds did not damage any electrical transformers in the region. “Most of the electric poles are damaged during evening hours. Repairs are done during the day. On an average, each new electric pole could be installed in two hours. Within five days, Tangedco replaced 55 damaged poles,” M. Silambarasan, Assistant Engineer (AE), Tangedco (Kannamangalam), told The Hindu.

Residents urged Tangedco officials to ensure uninterrupted power supply in the area due to rising heat.

Published – 30 May 2026 23:45 IST