Reported power cable fire at Vijay Chowk, Gorakhpur, during rain

What happened

According to a Hindi-language local report published on 30 October 2026, rain linked to a storm reported as Cyclone Arnab disrupted the electricity supply in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. The report says power was cut for several hours in areas including Shahpur, Raptinagar, Durgabari, Surajkund, Rustampur and Ranibagh, and that some households lost water supply. The report attributes other outages to a punctured insulator and a tree branch touching a high-tension line.

It also reports a fire in a power cable at Vijay Chowk that continued after the supply was cut. Utility staff first tried to extinguish it, and the fire brigade was called. The report says the fire was brought under control after considerable effort, and that the Golghar feeder was shut down. The report says repair work was disrupted by the rain. No injuries are reported.

Contributing factors

The report links the wider outages to heavy rain. The cause of the cable fire at Vijay Chowk is not reported. Whether the fire and the Golghar feeder shutdown were part of the same outage is not stated.

Lessons learned

1. Storm forecasts can prompt checks on insulators, overhead lines and tree clearance before severe weather arrives.
2. A cable fire that continues after isolation may need a planned response with trained staff and fire service contact.
3. Feeder shutdowns during storms may affect water supply and vulnerable customers, so their impacts should be planned for.

More lessons on weather and external hazards, fire suppression and firefighting, from every incident on the register.

Source

m.jagran.com