Transformer failure plunges Uri, Boniyar villages into darkness

Idrees Bukhtiyar
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29 Jan 2026

New transformer will be dispatched within a week: JKPTCL CE Srinagar, Jan 29: A day after a 20 MVA transformer at the Lower Jhelum Hydel Power Project (LJHP) at Chehlan in Boniyar area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district turned defunct, residents of Uri and Boniyar subdivisions have been plunged into complete darkness. The transformer supplies electricity to over 150 villages of Uri and Boniyar areas. Locals told Rising Kashmir that there was no electricity supply across Uri and Boniyar on Thursday, causing severe inconvenience to households, traders and students. “A day after the transformer stopped supplying electricity, the entire area is reeling under darkness. There has been no power supply today, which has made life extremely difficult,” residents said. The outage comes close on the heels of disruptions caused by recent snowfall in the region. Locals said electricity supply had been restored after nearly a week following snowfall-related damage in several areas of Uri, but the failure of the transformer has compounded their problems. “People had just started getting some relief after days of outage due to snowfall damage. Now this new crisis has pushed us back into darkness again,” they said. According to officials, LJHP has two 20 MVA transformers. While one transformer, managed by the hydel project, is functional, the other 20 MVA transformer under the jurisdiction of the Jammu and Kashmir Power Transmission Corporation Limited (JKPTCL) has turned almost defunct, affecting power supply to large parts of Uri and Boniyar. However, Chief Engineer JKPTCL (Kashmir), Er M Aaquib Sultana Waheed Deva, said the matter has been taken up on priority. “The issue has come to my notice. A new 20 MVA transformer will be dispatched to the area within a week’s time. The process in this regard has already been initiated, and steps have also been taken to remove the old defunct transformer,” she said. She added that JKPTCL has also approached the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) to explore interim arrangements. “We have requested KPDCL to see if some feeders can be run from the Sheeri receiving station till things become normal, so that consumers are not made to suffer,” she said. Meanwhile, MLA Uri, Dr Sajjad Shafi, said he has taken up the issue with the power department. “I have already raised the matter with the concerned authorities and I am thankful to the department for approving a 20 MVA transformer for the area,” he said. Appealing for patience, the MLA urged residents to cooperate till the new transformer is installed. “I request people to bear with the situation for some time. Once the new transformer is installed, things will ease,” he added.