As the nation gears up to celebrate Independence Day with the vibrant tradition of kite flying, Tata Power-DDL (TPDDL), a leading power utility supplying electricity to over 2 million customers in North & North West Delhi, urges the residents of Delhi to prioritize safety, by indulging in the fun of kite flying away from Electrical Installations and Overhead Power Lines, as it could lead to possible power disruptions and/or electricity related accidents.
The metal-coated thread (commonly known as Manjha) used in flying kites can cause electric lines to trip when it comes in contact with the power lines. Since Metallic Manjha can also conduct electricity, it can lead to severe damage such as electrical shocks. Tripping of even one 33/66 KV overhead power lines can lead to the disruption of power supply of over 10,000 residents of an area and tripping of a single 11 KV line of over 2,500 residents.
Tata Power-DDL requests its customers to use kite string made of cotton or any other natural fiber instead of the metal coated thread- manjha, as per the Government regulations and be mindful of the electrical network.
As a part of enhancing public awareness and ensuring safety, Tata Power-DDL has intensified its outreach and aims to engage approximately 200,000 households in the JJ clusters and resettlement colonies. The company’s Social Impact Group (SIG) through its team of 1000 ABHA members have been instrumental in raising awareness about electrical safety within the local communities. In addition to community awareness, the discom has issued Safe Kite Flying Advisory and is distributing safety guideline leaflets, to educate the customers towards the importance of safety during kite flying activities. Tata power DDL has also engaged Radio FM for spreading awareness w.r.t. Safety during Kite Flying, in the interest of the public of Delhi. The discom is also conducting special awareness sessions in various Govt. and Private Schools of Delhi, for educating students about the hazards related to Kite Flying and how to deal with it.
With the help of cutting-edge Geospatial Techniques available at Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS), Tata Power-DDL analyses the past trends of service disruptions and visualize the areas such as Jahangirpuri, Mangolpuri, Sultanpuri, Kirari, Bhaslwa, Burari, Badli, Karala, Wazirpur and Bawana etc. that are prone to get affected by kite flying-induced interruptions.
Sharing his insights on careful kite flying, Rajesh Bahl, Chief – Operations & Safety Tata Power-DDL said, “Kite flying is a cherished part of our Independence Day celebrations. However, it’s crucial to remember that the metallic kite-string can cause tripping of power lines when it comes in contact with the electrical network. It can have severe consequences including fatality. We urge all customers to celebrate Independence Day responsibly and keep kites away from power lines, transformers, and other electrical infrastructure for a safe Independence Day.”
By adhering to essential kite flying safety tips, electricals hazards can be avoided:
Choose open areas away from overhead power lines and electrical installationsfor kite flying.
Don’t use metal-coated kite string or ‘manjha’ as it can trip power lines and cause serious electricity-related accidents.
In case a kite gets stuck on power lines, do not attempt to retrieve it.
Educate children about the importance of safe kite flying practices and ensure they are supervised while flying kites.
For any emergencies or to report any unsafe situation/ untoward incident related to electrical network, please connect with us on our toll-free number 19124
For Kite Flying safety tips, log on to Tata Power-DDL’s Facebook Page and X (formerly Twitter) Handle.
Tata Power-DDL as a responsible entity prioritizes customer safety and encourages them to stay vigilant during the Kite Flying activity. The discom is also spreading awareness through its Social Media campaigns to educate citizens on how to have a safe and enjoyable Independence Day.