New Delhi: Gross indiscipline by Madhya Pradesh in drawing excessive power despite repeated warnings caused the collapse of western region grid leading to total black out in five states including Maharashtra, Power Grid Corporation Chief R P Singh said on July 30 night.

"It is rampant indiscipline and ignoring of our warnings by Madhya Pradesh that led to the collapse. If they have suicidal mentality what can we do," an agitated Singh said after the grid collapse.

"At 19:45 hours (IST), Madhya Pradesh was drawing an extra 500 MW. We disconnected their four lines at Itarsi and Beena. Still they were drawing extra 300MW.

"We send them warnings and written messages. The extra drawl of power brought down the grid frequency to a low of 47.8 htz. The grid was then bound to collapse," Singh said.

In Mumbai, the supply of 2000 mw was being continued through the systems of Tata's and BSES, he said.

Restoration of supply would require 20,000 mw of power and we have already brought in 2,500 to 3,000 mw into the system, Singh said.

Claiming that power supply would be given to all essential services in the next two- three hours, Singh said the system would be brought to normalcy by July 31 morning.

Arrangements were being made for immediate drawl of power from NTPCs Gandhar, Kawas, Vindyanchal and Chanderpur thermal power projects, he said.

PTI