Rain causes blackouts, 222 Sepco, Hesco feeders yet to go back online. PHOTO: AFP
The long-awaited monsoon rain brought misery to the people as electricity supply was disrupted in many parts of Sindh on Monday.
With low-lying areas already inundated in many parts of upper Sindh – including Sukkur, Rohri, Pano Aqil, Ghotki, Mirpur Mathelo, Daharki, Ubauro, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Khairpur, Naushahro Feroze and Larkana – power cuts further aggravated the locals’ situation.
More than 247 of the 430 feeders of the Sukkur Electric Power Company (Sepco) had tripped on Sunday. Some of the feeders were back online within 10 to 15 hours, but more than 180 feeders were left unrestored.
According to a Sepco official, the power utility is responsible for providing electricity to 10 districts of upper Sindh: Sukkur, Ghotki, Jacobabad, Kashmore-Kandhkot, Shikarpur, Khairpur, Naushahro Feroze, Larkana, Kamber-Shahdadkot and Dadu.
He said that though repairs and replacement of high-tension and low-tension conductors is carried out every year during winter, shoddy work often causes the conductors to snap and fall.
He said this problem would persist as long as the power companies do not take drastic action against their employees, as well as the consumers involved in electricity theft.
Sepco Public Relations Officer Noor Ahmed Soomro said the chief of the power utility has taken notice of the power failure and ordered immediate restoration of all the feeders.
Soomro said the high-tension and low-tension conductors are worn out and, therefore, snap as soon as the rain starts falling.
Central and southern Sindh
The situation in the central and southern districts of the province was no different. While the downpour left many urban and semi-urban areas swamped in a mix of muddy water and sewage, power supply in several districts was suspended for up to 12 hours.
The Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco) – whose jurisdiction covers 14 districts of Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and Nawabshah divisions – admitted that 42 of the utility’s more than 400 electric feeders had shut down.
However, complaints of extended power outages continuing well through the afternoon were reported from at least eight of the rain-hit districts – including Hyderabad, where 15 feeders remained offline.
According to Hesco spokesman Sadiq Kubar, the switching off of the feeders followed the rain that began falling at around 3am.
The act of restoring power — which was halted after feeders tripped and trees touched the power lines — started around noon.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 28th, 2015.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ