Keylong, April 22
Whenever heavy snowfall or relentless rains disrupt electricity supply in Lahaul, one name consistently resurfaces as a troubleshooter Ram Singh, a retired special foreman from Sissu village.
Despite retirement, Singh continues to serve as a crucial support system for the power infrastructure in the region. During extreme weather conditions, when electricity supply from Manali gets disrupted, authorities and private contractors turn to his expertise to restore power.
Electricity in Lahaul is primarily supplied from the Dhundi power grid near Manali, passing through the Atal Tunnel to the North Portal via overhead and underground cable systems. These cables, especially on the South Portal side, are highly vulnerable during harsh weather. Heavy snowfall and rain increase the load on already heavy cables, often leading to joint failures. Additionally, land erosion between Dhundi and the South Portal has caused several poles to tilt or collapse, further damaging the supply line.
The maintenance of this critical cable network falls under the Border Roads Organisation’s Yojak Project and is handled by a private firm, Severonick. However, whenever technical faults arise, the company frequently relies on Ram Singh’s decades of hands-on experience to fix the issues.
Singh’s expertise stems from his long service with the electricity department, including his role in laying and maintaining an approximately 8-kilometre underground cable near the Gufa Hotel area. Over the years, he and his team became the go-to experts for resolving faults in this challenging terrain.
Speaking about his experience, Singh highlighted the harsh realities faced by field workers, especially during winters. “People often complain when electricity goes out, but they don’t realize the extreme conditions we work in to restore supply,” he said with a smile.
He also clarified that currently, there are no major faults within Lahaul’s internal power network, and local staff are fully capable. However, disruptions originating from the Manali side — under a different jurisdiction — often create the perception of inaction among residents.
Until full restoration from the Manali grid, the region depends on the Thirot Power House, which currently cannot meet Lahaul’s entire electricity demand.
In times of crisis, Ram Singh continues to prove that experience and dedication remain invaluable assets even beyond retirement.
