KARACHI, April 13: The transmission and distribution system of the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation broke down in many localities as the city experienced the hottest day of the month.
Sources in the KESC told Dawn that the areas which suffered power breakdowns included Federal B Area, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, North Karachi, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, North Nazimabad, Rizvia Society, Pak Colony, Korangi, Nazimabad, Site, C.P. Berar Society, Malir, Adamjee Nagar, Saddar, Cantt and Defence.
They added that the number of power complaints registered an increase with the upswing of temperature. Pakistan Meteorological Department officials told Dawn that on Tuesday maximum and minimum temperatures were 41.5°C and 24.5°C, respectively. Humidity was 29 per cent.
PMD officials recalled that the highest temperature recorded in this month was on April 16, 1947 when mercury had risen to 44°C. They said that on Wednesday the maximum temperature would range between 40°C and 42°C, adding that the weather would be dry.
A resident of North Nazimabad, Block L, told Dawn there had been a lot of fluctuation of power in his locality. He said his friend, living in the same, had such an abrupt power shutdown on Tuesday that the monitor of his computer set and other accessories broke down.
A resident of an apartment in Garden East told Dawn that he had been without electricity since morning. "The localized power breakdown that we are suffering at the moment was preceded by a localized power fault which had deprived a couple of flats, including mine, of electricity.
I have no idea when the power supply would be restored and whether my electricity would be restored or not," he said. He added that some residents of his apartment block obtained power connections from other apartments which received a connection from a different pole-mounted transformer. He added that these people very rarely experienced a power shutdown.
A resident of Lyari told Dawn that there was a lot of resentment in his locality about prolonged power breakdowns, especially the one which occurred on Tuesday. He said he had no idea why Lyari was such a low-priority area for the KESC where localized power faults remained unattended for many hours.
He recalled that last year enraged mobs had taken to the streets to protest against the indifferent attitude of KESC engineers who made no effort to rectify power faults as soon as possible.
A KESC spokesman said that on Tuesday 2,179 complaints werereceived by the power utility by 8pm. He added that the total number of KESC consumers was 1.8 million.
He said that at present the KESC was carrying out two major uplift works. "In North Karachi, a transformer is being upgraded from 20MVA to 40MVA. Another transformer of the Jacob Lines grid was also being overhauled.
While alternative arrangements have been made for the localities connected to these transformers, power interruptions do occur which are sorted out as soon as they are reported," he explained. The KESC spokesman said the maximum power demand on Tuesday was 1,930 megawatts. He added that the power demand was likely to rise to 2,100 megawatts.
