As Lucknow's power demand surges with temperatures crossing 40°C, the electricity department has devised an unusual cooling system - installing desert coolers and exhaust fans for overheated transformers. The makeshift solution involves hanging wet gunny sacks behind fans to create DIY air-conditioning for critical power infrastructure.
With transformers at 15 substations at risk of melting down, officials have placed emergency orders for 400 additional coolers. At Vibhuti Khand substation (serving 20,000 connections), engineers have jury-rigged cooling by continuously rewetting jute sacks draped over exhaust systems. Similar arrangements are visible at HAL and Indiranagar substations.
"Transformers are like smartphones - they throttle performance when overheated," explained a department engineer, noting how rising internal temperatures reduce power frequency. The stopgap measures will continue until monsoon rains bring natural relief. Meanwhile, the department is playing a high-stakes game of keeping transformers cool enough to prevent citywide blackouts.
