Baloch insurgency: 12-hour power outage in Quetta after attacks
Power supply to Quetta and 14 other districts of Balochistan were disrupted on Saturday as unidentified persons attacked three power pylons.
The pylons were blown up in separate explosions in Quetta and near Mach town in Bolan district.
According to the Quetta Electric Supply Company (Qesco), unidentified persons had planted explosives along a 132KV power pylon that were detonated in the early hours of Saturday. Another power pylon of 220KV was blown up between Quetta and Sibi and another 132KV-transmission line was attacked in Mian Ghundi area in Quetta’s outskirts.
Affected districts include Quetta, Sibi, Bolan, Kila Abdullah, Kila Saifullah, Naushki, Mastung, Kalat, Khuzdar, Ziarat, Pishin, Jaffarabad, Naseerabad and Chaghai.
Qesco spokesperson Shafqat Khan said that power supply to Quetta feeder was partially restored through alternative means.
“Power shortfall has exceeded 1,200 megawatts, forcing Qesco to carry out loadshedding for as long as 12 hours in Quetta alone,” Shafqat Khan said.
He said that Habibullah Coastal Power House is generating just 60 megawatts against its capacity of 120 megawatts due to a fault that had developed in two of its units. Affected grid stations of the province are being supplied about 80 megawatts against a total demand of 1,350.
“Damaged power pylons will be repaired after receiving a security clearance of the area from the authorities,” Shafqat Khan added.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 20th, 2011.
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