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General Category => Off the Record => Topic started by: Syt on July 31, 2012, 07:12:44 AM

Title: Blackouts: more than half a billion without electricity in India
Post by: Syt on July 31, 2012, 07:12:44 AM
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-19060279

QuoteHundreds of millions without power in India

Hundreds of millions of people have been left without electricity in northern and eastern India after a massive power breakdown.

More than half the country has been left without power after three grids collapsed - one of them for the second day running.

Hundreds of trains have come to a standstill and hospitals are running on backup generators.

In eastern India, around 200 miners have been trapped underground.

They have been moved to an area where they have access to fresh air and are not in immediate danger.

In Delhi, Metro services were halted and staff evacuated trains. Some trains have started running again, although a full service is not expected for many hours.

The breakdowns in the northern, eastern, and north-eastern grids mean around 600m people have been affected.

A failure on the northern grid on Monday caused severe disruption and travel chaos across northern India.
Ageing grid

It was unclear why the grid collapsed but the power minister said some states might have been taking too much power.

After Monday's cut, engineers managed to restore electricity to the northern grid by the evening, but at 13:05 (07:35 GMT) on Tuesday, it collapsed again.

The eastern grid failed around the same time, officials said, followed by the north-eastern grid.

Areas affected include Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan in the north, and West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Jharkhand in the east.

An official in Orissa said the blackout in the eastern grid had been triggered by a fault and could take several hours to resolve.

Railway officials said more than 350 trains were stranded.

Across West Bengal, power went at 13:00 and all suburban railway trains on the eastern railways ground to a halt from Howrah and Seladah stations, the BBC's Rahul Tandon reports from Calcutta.

However, the city is not badly affected as it is served by a private electricity board, our correspondent adds.

Power cuts are common in Indian cities because of a fundamental shortage of power and an ageing grid - the chaos caused by such cuts has led to protests and unrest on the streets in the past.

But the collapse of an entire grid is rare - the last time the northern grid failed was in 2001.

India's demand for electricity has soared in recent years as its economy has grown but its power infrastructure has been unable to meet the growing needs.

Correspondents say unless there is a huge investment in the power sector, the country will see many more power failures.
Title: Re: Blackouts: more than half a billion without electricity in India
Post by: Ed Anger on July 31, 2012, 07:14:33 AM
Pepco looks on in envy.
Title: Re: Blackouts: more than half a billion without electricity in India
Post by: CountDeMoney on July 31, 2012, 07:18:10 AM
Hilarious.  India produces some of the finest engineers in the world.  But it can't keep the lights on.

Further proof of the 3rd World reality that Indians fare better than India itself.  And people wonder why I scoff at the notion that countries like India are ever going to go anywhere.
Title: Re: Blackouts: more than half a billion without electricity in India
Post by: jimmy olsen on July 31, 2012, 07:21:14 AM
Was just going to post this. Now is time for Pakistan to strike!  :menace:   

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/07/31/13046777-hundreds-of-millions-without-power-after-indian-grid-goes-down-for-second-time-in-2-days?lite
Title: Re: Blackouts: more than half a billion without electricity in India
Post by: Ed Anger on July 31, 2012, 07:22:33 AM
 :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Blackouts: more than half a billion without electricity in India
Post by: Eddie Teach on July 31, 2012, 08:40:48 AM
Indian engineers aren't gonna turn power back on until somebody wins a gold.
Title: Re: Blackouts: more than half a billion without electricity in India
Post by: HVC on July 31, 2012, 08:53:05 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 31, 2012, 07:18:10 AM
Hilarious.  India produces some of the finest engineers in the world.  But it can't keep the lights on.

all the good ones come to the west. the engineers left there are the ones not good enough to leave :P

Then again, it was only like 5 years ago when a large chunk of the east cast of NA was powerless for a few days :lol:
Title: Re: Blackouts: more than half a billion without electricity in India
Post by: CountDeMoney on July 31, 2012, 08:55:06 AM
Quote from: HVC on July 31, 2012, 08:53:05 AM
Then again, it was only like 5 years ago when a large chunk of the east cast of NA was powerless for a few days :lol:

That was 2003.  And we knew what went wrong.  It was Canada's fault anyway.
Title: Re: Blackouts: more than half a billion without electricity in India
Post by: HVC on July 31, 2012, 08:57:12 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 31, 2012, 08:55:06 AM
Quote from: HVC on July 31, 2012, 08:53:05 AM
Then again, it was only like 5 years ago when a large chunk of the east cast of NA was powerless for a few days :lol:

That was 2003.  And we knew what went wrong.  It was Canada's fault anyway.
michigan!


I think. it was the states though. and crap, 9 years ago already?
Title: Re: Blackouts: more than half a billion without electricity in India
Post by: CountDeMoney on July 31, 2012, 08:59:03 AM
Quote from: HVC on July 31, 2012, 08:57:12 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 31, 2012, 08:55:06 AM
Quote from: HVC on July 31, 2012, 08:53:05 AM
Then again, it was only like 5 years ago when a large chunk of the east cast of NA was powerless for a few days :lol:

That was 2003.  And we knew what went wrong.  It was Canada's fault anyway.
michigan!

Try Ontario.
Title: Re: Blackouts: more than half a billion without electricity in India
Post by: garbon on July 31, 2012, 09:00:38 AM
Doesn't look to have affected my vendors...though I haven't had a programming request recently. :ph34r:
Title: Re: Blackouts: more than half a billion without electricity in India
Post by: HVC on July 31, 2012, 09:06:27 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 31, 2012, 08:59:03 AM
Quote from: HVC on July 31, 2012, 08:57:12 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 31, 2012, 08:55:06 AM
Quote from: HVC on July 31, 2012, 08:53:05 AM
Then again, it was only like 5 years ago when a large chunk of the east cast of NA was powerless for a few days :lol:

That was 2003.  And we knew what went wrong.  It was Canada's fault anyway.
michigan!

Try Ontario.
wikipedia says ohio. ohio, michigan, they're kind of the same thing.
Title: Re: Blackouts: more than half a billion without electricity in India
Post by: CountDeMoney on July 31, 2012, 09:07:10 AM
Quote from: HVC on July 31, 2012, 09:06:27 AM
wikipedia says ohio. ohio, michigan, they're kind of the same thing.

Wikipedia.  What do they know.
Title: Re: Blackouts: more than half a billion without electricity in India
Post by: Ed Anger on July 31, 2012, 02:18:22 PM
Quote from: HVC on July 31, 2012, 09:06:27 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 31, 2012, 08:59:03 AM
Quote from: HVC on July 31, 2012, 08:57:12 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 31, 2012, 08:55:06 AM
Quote from: HVC on July 31, 2012, 08:53:05 AM
Then again, it was only like 5 years ago when a large chunk of the east cast of NA was powerless for a few days :lol:

That was 2003.  And we knew what went wrong.  It was Canada's fault anyway.
michigan!

Try Ontario.
wikipedia says ohio. ohio, michigan, they're kind of the same thing.

That will get you ass kicked in November here boy.
Title: Re: Blackouts: more than half a billion without electricity in India
Post by: garbon on July 31, 2012, 02:18:45 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 31, 2012, 02:18:22 PM
Quote from: HVC on July 31, 2012, 09:06:27 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 31, 2012, 08:59:03 AM
Quote from: HVC on July 31, 2012, 08:57:12 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 31, 2012, 08:55:06 AM
Quote from: HVC on July 31, 2012, 08:53:05 AM
Then again, it was only like 5 years ago when a large chunk of the east cast of NA was powerless for a few days :lol:

That was 2003.  And we knew what went wrong.  It was Canada's fault anyway.
michigan!

Try Ontario.
wikipedia says ohio. ohio, michigan, they're kind of the same thing.

That will get you ass kicked in November here boy.

Why would he want to be there? :huh:
Title: Re: Blackouts: more than half a billion without electricity in India
Post by: Ed Anger on July 31, 2012, 02:26:20 PM
It was a football joke.

Title: Re: Blackouts: more than half a billion without electricity in India
Post by: Valmy on July 31, 2012, 02:28:35 PM
Quote from: garbon on July 31, 2012, 02:18:45 PM
Why would he want to be there? :huh:

Warmer than Canada in November.
Title: Re: Blackouts: more than half a billion without electricity in India
Post by: Ed Anger on July 31, 2012, 02:29:59 PM
I need a vacation.
Title: Re: Blackouts: more than half a billion without electricity in India
Post by: garbon on July 31, 2012, 02:30:12 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 31, 2012, 02:26:20 PM
It was a football joke.

Doesn't answer my question. ^_^

@Valmy - I've learned that heat isn't the only criteria of importance when choosing a place to be.
Title: Re: Blackouts: more than half a billion without electricity in India
Post by: Ed Anger on July 31, 2012, 02:32:00 PM
Quote from: garbon on July 31, 2012, 02:30:12 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 31, 2012, 02:26:20 PM
It was a football joke.

Doesn't answer my question. ^_^

@Valmy - I've learned that heat isn't the only criteria of importance when choosing a place to be.

I ignore your little digs at Ohio.  :moon:
Title: Re: Blackouts: more than half a billion without electricity in India
Post by: katmai on July 31, 2012, 02:34:30 PM
Just remind him of his deep Kentucky roots.
Title: Re: Blackouts: more than half a billion without electricity in India
Post by: garbon on July 31, 2012, 02:35:54 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 31, 2012, 02:32:00 PM
Quote from: garbon on July 31, 2012, 02:30:12 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on July 31, 2012, 02:26:20 PM
It was a football joke.

Doesn't answer my question. ^_^

@Valmy - I've learned that heat isn't the only criteria of importance when choosing a place to be.

I ignore your little digs at Ohio.  :moon:

Sorry, that's not enticing. :blurgh:
Title: Re: Blackouts: more than half a billion without electricity in India
Post by: Ed Anger on July 31, 2012, 02:36:35 PM
Quote from: katmai on July 31, 2012, 02:34:30 PM
Just remind him of his deep Kentucky roots.

NOT COOL MAN
Title: Re: Blackouts: more than half a billion without electricity in India
Post by: KRonn on July 31, 2012, 06:37:54 PM
Some get a flashlight so an electrician can find the On Switch for the country's power grid.
Title: Re: Blackouts: more than half a billion without electricity in India
Post by: Neil on July 31, 2012, 07:09:55 PM
Almost certainly a Chinese cyber-attack.  It would be wise for India to respond with a series of nuclear attacks on China.
Title: Re: Blackouts: more than half a billion without electricity in India
Post by: Jaron on July 31, 2012, 07:22:53 PM
My company got slammed hard. We rely on our Indian.......associates to program overnight so things are fixed when we wake up. It seems like they must have sent them home and had them work overnight, or they pulled a double shift. They're going to have sweet 2.00 paychecks next pay period.
Title: Re: Blackouts: more than half a billion without electricity in India
Post by: Eddie Teach on July 31, 2012, 10:43:40 PM
Quote from: garbon on July 31, 2012, 02:18:45 PM
Why would he want to be there? :huh:

He might be driving through on the way to Cal's house.
Title: Re: Blackouts: more than half a billion without electricity in India
Post by: garbon on August 01, 2012, 10:00:39 AM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on July 31, 2012, 10:43:40 PM
Quote from: garbon on July 31, 2012, 02:18:45 PM
Why would he want to be there? :huh:

He might be driving through on the way to Cal's house.

Gross!
Title: Re: Blackouts: more than half a billion without electricity in India
Post by: MadImmortalMan on August 01, 2012, 11:21:27 AM
I thought the Indians were used to their grid going offline for periods at a time.
Title: Re: Blackouts: more than half a billion without electricity in India
Post by: Valmy on August 01, 2012, 12:04:32 PM
Quote from: garbon on July 31, 2012, 02:30:12 PM
@Valmy - I've learned that heat isn't the only criteria of importance when choosing a place to be.

It would be if you spent a winter in Canada.
Title: Re: Blackouts: more than half a billion without electricity in India
Post by: Tonitrus on August 01, 2012, 03:19:53 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on August 01, 2012, 11:21:27 AM
I thought the Indians were used to their grid going offline for periods at a time.

I thought about half a billion people in India probably didn't have electricity to begin with.