Transformer fire at Pattabhiram substation prompts replacement

2024Published 29 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantThermal / fireProvisional16 MW

Estimated damageEstimated by the register's adjusterHow? Know the real figure?

supply cut for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate

From the recordFailed part

We will also email you about the register's paid records and plans, at most once a week and three times in all. You can stop these at any time. By signing up you agree to the privacy policy.

Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): Tamil Nadu Generation, Tangedco

What happened

One of three 16 MVA power transformers at the Pattabhiram substation was damaged by fire on a Saturday, causing a night-long power cut in the locality. Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation commissioned a replacement transformer on the following Tuesday. Minor power disruptions were still being reported after commissioning. A Tangedco official said that, normally, it takes time for the entire load to shift to a newly installed transformer.

Contributing factors

The source does not report the cause of the fire.

Lessons learned

A multi-transformer substation can restore supply by replacing a damaged unit, but customers may still see short disruptions while load is transferred.
Spare transformer arrangements and a rehearsed installation plan shorten outages at urban substations.
After a replacement is energised, operators should monitor the load transfer and tell customers that minor disruptions may continue.

More lessons on outages, backup supply and restoration, detection and monitoring, from every incident on the register.

Source

The Hindu (thehindu.com)

Published 2026-09-29. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

See the register's stories first in Google: add it as a preferred source.

Chart to reuse with this story: Grid infrastructure incidents in India, by year, free with a credit (PNG).

The record behind this entry

The record behind EIR-1607 holds the site, the operator, the capacity and what failed as fields you can filter, count and export, with its source and their verification status. Companies are named in the roles the sources give them. Being named is not a finding of fault.

Site: ••••••••••••
Operator: •••••••••
Capacity: •••••
Failed part: •••••••
Sources: ••••••••

Opens with either of these:

Your email and a six-digit code; no card; once per person. Then a plan, or carry on with the free register

Analyst, £39 a month

Ask the register any question in plain words and get a sourced answer in seconds (20 a month), plus the full record behind every entry. Cancel at any time. Limited-time price, rising to £79. Join now and keep £39.

See a complete record first, if you like.

Open the record in Lookup

Or get this one record free by email

Grid infrastructure incidents in India: 94 entries, with a free alert for the next one.

Substation and transformer fires: the counts, the latest entries and a free alert for the next one.

Browse the full register or submit an incident.