Blackout: All is dark on the northern front
PESCO says several electricity feeders in Swat and Hazara circle switched off after heavy rain, snow.
PESCO says several electricity feeders in Swat and Hazara circle switched off after heavy rain, snow. PHOTO: FILE
PESHAWAR:
Power supply to the northern region of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) was suspended as heavy snowfall and rain damaged electricity lines in Hazara and Swat on Wednesday.
“Due to severe snow, some Pesco installations have been damaged and power supply through the 11-kilovolt (KV) lines has been suspended to the region,” said Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) spokesperson Shaukat Afzal.
He added that the 33-KV Dir-Chitral transmission line was also severely damaged. “The power line is situated at the Lowari Top and due to continuous inclement weather, rehabilitation work has yet to begin,” he said, adding that special teams will reach the area as soon as the weather permits.
Moreover, he said several electricity poles at various localities in the region had been damaged due to the snow, resulting in suspension of power from the 11-KV stations at Kabal, Matta and Banzai in Swat.
“Rehabilitation work will begin after the water level decreases,” the Pesco spokesperson said, adding rains had caused a rise in the water level which had further hindered repair work.
He said several 11-KV feeders including those at Nathiagali, Makool, Makand, Ayubia, Lora and Baghnotar were also affected in Hazara Circle.
Pesco staffers roughed up
The spokesperson informed that residents of Regi village, a suburban locality of Peshawar, forcefully attempted to restore power supply from the 132-KV University Town Grid Station.
“They beat up Pesco staff and attempted to restore power supply to Regi and other areas,” he said, adding that the timely arrival of police resulted in settling the issue. However, none of the residents were arrested by the police as they escaped the premises before their arrival.
“They threatened Pesco staff of dire consequences if load-shedding continues,” claimed the spokesperson and informed that the sub-division officer at the grid station lodged an FIR against unidentified culprits at Pishtakhara police station.
“The chief executive of Pesco has taken serious notice of the incident and demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible,” he said.
He said Pesco faces around 96% line losses in Regi and its adjacent areas owing to abundant direct hooks which overload the supply system.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 20th, 2014.
Power supply to the northern region of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) was suspended as heavy snowfall and rain damaged electricity lines in Hazara and Swat on Wednesday.
“Due to severe snow, some Pesco installations have been damaged and power supply through the 11-kilovolt (KV) lines has been suspended to the region,” said Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) spokesperson Shaukat Afzal.
He added that the 33-KV Dir-Chitral transmission line was also severely damaged. “The power line is situated at the Lowari Top and due to continuous inclement weather, rehabilitation work has yet to begin,” he said, adding that special teams will reach the area as soon as the weather permits.
Moreover, he said several electricity poles at various localities in the region had been damaged due to the snow, resulting in suspension of power from the 11-KV stations at Kabal, Matta and Banzai in Swat.
“Rehabilitation work will begin after the water level decreases,” the Pesco spokesperson said, adding rains had caused a rise in the water level which had further hindered repair work.
He said several 11-KV feeders including those at Nathiagali, Makool, Makand, Ayubia, Lora and Baghnotar were also affected in Hazara Circle.
Pesco staffers roughed up
The spokesperson informed that residents of Regi village, a suburban locality of Peshawar, forcefully attempted to restore power supply from the 132-KV University Town Grid Station.
“They beat up Pesco staff and attempted to restore power supply to Regi and other areas,” he said, adding that the timely arrival of police resulted in settling the issue. However, none of the residents were arrested by the police as they escaped the premises before their arrival.
“They threatened Pesco staff of dire consequences if load-shedding continues,” claimed the spokesperson and informed that the sub-division officer at the grid station lodged an FIR against unidentified culprits at Pishtakhara police station.
“The chief executive of Pesco has taken serious notice of the incident and demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible,” he said.
He said Pesco faces around 96% line losses in Regi and its adjacent areas owing to abundant direct hooks which overload the supply system.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 20th, 2014.