A major fire broke out on Saturday at the Machkund Hydroelectric Power Station, situated near the border of Koraput and Alluri Sitharama Raju districts, damaging several machines and electrical systems. Authorities confirmed that no casualties or injuries were reported.

Officials warned that the incident could delay power generation for more than six months, following a preliminary assessment of damage to key equipment at the plant.

The power station, which has an installed capacity of 120 MW and operates six generating units, reportedly caught fire after a Current Transformer (CT) connected to a transformer supplying local electricity exploded. At the time, all six units were operational.

Authorities immediately shut down all generating units safely to prevent further damage and avoid a major accident inside the facility. Preliminary estimates indicate that restoration and resumption of power generation could take over six months, given the extent of the damage to critical machinery.

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Officials also recalled a similar incident in 2007, during which the damage was repaired within 15 to 20 days, allowing the plant to resume operations quickly.

The Machkund Hydroelectric Power Station, a crucial 120 MW joint project between the Governments of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, plays an important role in regional power supply. The fire has raised concerns over maintenance and safety systems at one of the key hydroelectric projects in the region.