Weather woes: Rain, snow costs PESCO Rs50 million in losses in Hazara

Power yet to be restored to several areas after February 11 storm

ABBOTTABAD: Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) suffered losses worth Rs50 million because of power breakdowns caused by heavy rain and snow in Hazara Division.

A Pesco official told The Express Tribune on Wednesday rain and snowfall that lashed various parts of the division on February 11 resulted in a power breakdown in Abbottabad, Galiyat, Mansehra, Battagram, and Kaghan Valley. “Pesco suffered losses of Rs50 million,” he said. “Power has yet to be restored in many hilly areas.”

Scale of damage

According to an official document issued by the office of Pesco Hazara Circle Superintending Engineer Qazi Muhammad Tahir, feeders in Galiyat and Sherwan were badly affected by the inclement weather. As per the document, 76 feeders were affected in Hazara.



“Of these, maintenance work on 59 feeders has been completed,” read the document. “Work on the remaining 17 feeders is still in progress.”

The document added, “Nearly 60% maintenance work has been completed on feeders.”

In Abbottabad district, 11 feeders were affected by heavy rain and snow, stated the document. Of these, three have become operational again. “In the rural division of Abbottabad, 16 feeders were affected,” stated the document. “However, Pesco claims 13 have been made operational while the other three are being repaired.”

The document added, “Maintenance work on feeders in Mansehra district is still in progress. However, Pesco officials have yet to estimate losses in some remote areas.”

At least 96 transformers were damaged during the snow, added the document.

Around 82 transformers in Mansehra and 11 transformers in Abbottabad were affected. Three transformers in Haripur were also damaged.

The other view

Tahir was not available to comment on the matter despite repeated attempts to contact him.

However, one of his colleagues confirmed the figures, saying Pesco officials have been trying to deal with the power breakdown.

“Most of these areas are covered in snow and cannot be accessed easily,” he said.

He added there is no timeframe for the restoration of power supply in rural areas.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18^th,  2016.