On Sunday afternoon, a significant power outage struck Pune’s key tech and industrial hubs—Hinjewadi IT Park and the MIDC area—due to a fault in a 220 kV underground cable. The damaged cable, part of the Infosys–Pegasus line, failed shortly after scheduled maintenance activities had concluded. The outage affected both domestic and high-tension (HT) industrial consumers, disrupting business and daily life.
Areas and Consumers Affected
More than 12000 low-tension domestic users and 91 industrial consumers lost power. Major companies and zones affected include Infosys, Nextra, Raisoni Park, Dohler Company, and the Wipro Circle zone. This unexpected breakdown caused concern across households and businesses alike.
Extent of the Fault and Repair Timeline
Officials from the Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Limited (MSETCL) confirmed that the 220 kV cable had sustained major damage. “Full repairs will take at least three days,” said Anil Kolap, Chief Engineer at MSETCL. The timing of the fault—occurring shortly after maintenance—adds complexity to the situation.
Recovery Measures Underway
The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) began immediate action to divert over 63 MW of load through alternate supply routes. Their goal is to restore domestic supply by late Sunday night, although HT lines serving industries may remain down longer. Somnath Munde, Executive Engineer at MSEDCL’s Pimpri Division, assured that teams are working round-the-clock.
Impact on Residents and Daily Life
The blackout affected not just businesses but also the lives of working professionals. Rajiv Ranjan, a Hinjewadi resident, shared his frustration, stating that hours passed with no update. Another resident, Santosh Thakur from Megapolis, noted that while he was relieved it was a holiday, the disruption was longer than any prior outage.
Conclusion
This power outage highlights the growing importance of reliable infrastructure in key business districts like Hinjewadi. As work-from-home and industrial dependency on uninterrupted power grows, timely maintenance and swift response become even more critical. The coming days will test the efficiency of restoration measures and the resilience of the area’s power network.
