Pylon blown up: Eight days on, power crisis continues in Balochistan

QUETTA:

Despite a lapse of eight days, Quetta Electric Supply Company (Quesco) has failed to repair the damaged power pylon of high transmission line blown up by militants in the Chattar area of Nasirabad district.

Quetta and 15 other districts are facing prolonged power outages since January 7.

“It took five days to get security clearance,” said Quesco spokesperson Mohammed Afzal. “Repair team got the security clearance three days ago and electricity to 15 districts will be restored by Sunday or Monday,” he said.

The provincial capital was currently witnessing eight to nine hours of power outages while in the interior of Balochistan electricity was available for one or two hours only.

Afzal said one of the workers got electrocuted while repairing the power pylon which was why the repair work got further delayed.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th, 2014.