TNN reported that Singareni Collieries Company Limited has suffered a loss of INR 5 crore as coal production at all its mines came to a grinding halt due to the snapping of power supply following the collapse of a high tension electric tower.

Besides 23 mandals in Adilabad district, 22 coal mines, 19 underground and three opencast, went without power after a 132 KV electric tower, located on the banks of Yellampalli irrigation project in Karimnagar district, came crashing down.

The tower carrying high tension electric wires from National Thermal Power Corporation, Ramagundam, to Singareni coal mines collapsed as heavy winds swept through the region. Excavation and digging activities in all the coal mines were stalled as the machines became non-functional due to lack of power supply.

Coal production in the mines located in Srirampur, Mandamarri and Bellampalli areas was affected since Sunday night. The Singareni management gets revenue of INR 5 crore a day by producing 37,344 tonnes of coal, according to company officials. A total of 24,000 workers work in various mines in this region.

A company official said they suffered a loss of INR 50 crore when the 132 KV tower collapsed at the same place on September 10th 2010. The Singareni management had announced a lay off till the power was restored after a gap of three days.

While 900 villages and towns like Mancherial, Mandamarri, Bellampalli and Kaga Nagar were still enveloped in total darkness on Monday, the authorities expressed confidence that power would be restored soon.

District in charge minister Mr Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, who visited the Yellampalli project site to examine the collapsed tower, directed the authorities to take measures on a war-footing to restore power.

(Sourced from TNN)