Power failure in the Northern Grid and sections of the Eastern and Northeastern Grid led to major blackout in north and east India on Tuesday.
The Northern Grid had collapsed Monday, leading to power outages across seven states, including the national capital, and supply could be restored only by evening.
But it broke down again at 1 p.m. local time Tuesday, along with eastern grid, affecting power supply in more than 10 states and paralyzing train traffic as well as essential services such as the Delhi Metro, which depends heavily on electricity, reports said.
Train services in the region came to a complete halt due to the power failure, a railway spokesperson in Kolkata said. "About 150-200 trains have been affected by power failure," said a Northern Railway official. The Delhi Metro suspended service on all six lines as power tripped for the second consecutive day.
India's energy minister Sushil Kumar Shinde blamed over-consumption by some states for the breakdown, and said power would be restored in "an hour or hour and a half."
Powergrid Corporation failed to explain the reason for the complete shutdown, while some reports quoting officials said power supply will be restored by 7.30 pm.
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