Transformer explosion causes outage and vehicle fires in Pettah

What happened

A transformer near Pettah Police Station on the Pallimukku-Kannamoola road in Thiruvananthapuram caught fire after a loud explosion at about 11 pm. The fire spread to two nearby cars and gutted both. Residents reported intermittent power failures and sparks earlier that day, and an inspection was carried out in the morning after complaints. Smoke was reported at about 10 pm. The transformer then exploded and burned, and power supply in the area was disrupted. Local institutions, including ration shops, were reported to have been affected by the outage.

Contributing factors

The preliminary conclusion reported is a short circuit. Residents said there had been intermittent failures and sparks earlier that day, and smoke before the explosion. The cause has not been confirmed beyond that preliminary view.

Lessons learned

1. Treat reports of sparks, smoke or repeated failures on a transformer as a reason to isolate and inspect the equipment before it fails.
2. Keep a clear record of inspections and of what was told to people who report distress on the network.
3. Plan for fire spread to vehicles and other property close to pole and roadside transformers.

Source

keralakaumudi.com