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Grid infrastructureIndiaEIR-2617

Insulator fire at Kaloor substation disrupts Kochi power supply

Apr 2022Published 29 Oct 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantElectricalProvisionalNext update 29 Oct
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supply cut for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate
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Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): KSEB

What happened

On Sunday evening, 3 April 2022, an insulator at the KSEB substation at Kaloor in Kochi, Kerala, caught fire at about 5.15 pm, according to a fire and rescue officer. The blaze damaged the transformer and the circuit breaker, and a heavy cloud of smoke spread over the surrounding area. Two units from the Gandhinagar fire and rescue station attended and put the fire out after considerable effort. Power supply in Kochi city was disrupted for around three hours and was restored by about 8 pm.

No casualties were reported. A KSEB official estimated the loss at Rs 10 lakh. Police also attended the scene. KSEB said the damaged insulator would be replaced by the following Monday.

Contributing factors

The source does not state the cause of the insulator fire.

Lessons learned

  1. Substation insulators should be inspected and maintained on a planned basis, because insulator faults can start fires that spread to nearby transformers and switchgear.
  2. Fire crews need clear access routes and isolation arrangements for live substation equipment, since smoke and live equipment slow firefighting.
  3. Utilities should hold spare insulators and breakers on site so that supply to an urban area can be restored quickly after fire damage.

More lessons on spacing, layout and fire spread, fire suppression and firefighting, electrical protection and isolation, from every incident on the register.

Source

newindianexpress.com

Other entries that name Kaloor Kochi

Published 2026-10-29. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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

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