August 09, 2008	Saturday	Sha’aban 6, 1429

PESHAWAR, Aug 8: The provincial capital plunged into complete darkness as militants blew up the 500KV major pylon near Sheikh Mohammadi Grid Station in the small hours of Friday.

The same pylon was blown up by militants on May 12 and it had taken a long time to restore power, but the authorities failed to take security measures in this regard.

An official of the Badbher police station said that some unidentified terrorists had planted explosives to the power transmission tower-331 which exploded at midnight with a bang. The personnel thought as if militants had attacked the police station and they came out in panic, but later they came to know that the electric tower had been destroyed.

After the blast, he said, the area plunged into complete darkness, but policemen avoided moving around to avoid any possible attack.

An official of the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco), pleading anonymity, said it was a reaction of the anti-Taliban operation in the Matni area. The pylon was closed to the police station but the police had failed to protect it, he said.

Power towers were not available at the company’s stores and it would be brought from Shaikhpura or Multan and people would have to endure prolonged power breakdowns, he added.

He said that the explosion had also caused power suspension to the entire Peshawar district and some parts of Southern districts – areas of Kohat, Hangu, Lachi, Gorgorai and Pabbi. A spokesman for the Pesco said that destruction of the tower had caused power disruption in Peshawar city, Fort, Shahi Bagh, Peshawar Cantonment, Hayatabad, Bara, Landi Kotal, Jamrud and Pabbi Grid stations and areas fed through these grids were also affected. The Pesco chief executive had directed supply of power through alternate source, but the power supply system was badly overloaded.

The spokesman said that due to some necessary repair and maintenance work, power supply from the 132KV Peshawar Industrial Grid Station would remain suspended on Saturday from 7am to 11am as a result the power consumers at Abasin and Wazir Bagh feeders would face inconvenience.

Similarly, power supply would remain off from the 132KV Jamrud Grid Station on Aug 9 and Aug 11 from 7am to 2pm, as a result the consumers of 11KV express-1 and Olympia would face the inconvenience, he added.

The Peshawarites and dwellers of southern districts came out from their houses and chanted slogans against the government and the Pesco. Residents in Peshawar said they heard the loud blast and it created sense of insecurity, particularly among women and children as it seemed that city had come under attack. They condemned the concerned officials for their failure to stop terrorist activities even in the provincial capital of the NWFP.

APP adds: After hectic efforts the Pesco technical staff succeeded to restore electricity to the affected areas through alternative sources on temporary basis for small intervals.

The Pesco technical teams reached the site and started rehabilitation work. All necessary equipments and materials for the purpose were also being shifted to the site. The restoration of power supply on permanent basis would take some time.