LAHORE: Three grid stations and transmission lines of 132kV and over 30 feeders of the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) tripped in rural areas of Kasur district due to thunderstorm and rain on Sunday.

Electricity supply was suspended to a number of small towns and villages situated in the territorial jurisdictions Khudian, Allahabad and Kanganpur, according to a senior Lesco official.

“Sunday’s severe thunderstorm and rain disturbed the 132kV and 11kV system. Due to this, our three grid stations of 132kV with transmission lines in Khudian, Allahabad and Kanganpur and over 30 feeders tripped, suspending electricity supply to several villages and towns in Kasur district,” Lesco Chief Executive Officer Syed Wajid Ali Kazmi told Dawn on Sunday.

However, he claimed, power supply to a majority of service areas in Lahore, Nankana Sahib, Okara and Shiekhupura remained uninterrupted.

“In the aforementioned areas, there was no thunderstorm,” Mr Kazmi added.

He said the storm also caused issues with 220kV grid stations and transmission system operated by the National Transmission and Dispatch Company Limited (NTDCL) in Kasur.

Meanwhile, the water and power secretary spent Sunday in Lahore to discuss various issues related to 500kv and 220 transmission and dispatch system with NTDCL officials.

An official, who requested anonymity, told Dawn that the secretary was updated by the NTDCL managing director about the past, current and future transmission projects.

“Today (Monday), the secretary will brief the cabinet committee on energy in Islamabad about the NTDCL system, constraints etc,” the official added.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2017