KARACHI, Aug 9: Widespread and prolonged power outages and disruption of the KESC’s generation and distribution system put citizens in great distress on Thursday as the utility failed to take any rain emergency measures, despite an early warning from the Met Office.

A vast area of the city was without electricity for more than 10 hours as one of the generating units of Bin Qasim Power Plant ceased production and the transformers of its two grid stations developed faults.

Widespread tripping was also reported from across the city while there was no evidence of the KESC staff attending to the problems. The heavy downpour was the convenient excuse.

Power outages were reported from Gulshan-i-Iqbal’s Blocks 4, 4-A, 6 and 7, Al Mashriq Centre and the adjoining areas besides Federal B Area, Nazimabad, North Nazimabad, North Karachi, Baldia, Gulberg, Buffer Zone, Saudabad, Korangi, Orangi, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Pehlwan Goth, DHA Phase II, Safoora Goth and Gulshan-i-Maymar.

The utility resorted to shedding 300 megawatts as Unit No 4 of the Bin Qasim plant stopped generation due to a leakage in its boiler. A KESC spokesman claimed that load-shedding was only spread over an hour and a half, but consumers disputed this claim.

Transformers of the Gizri and Queens Road grid stations developed faults, causing a prolonged outage since 10 in the morning.

It may be pointed out that the Siemens-led management of the utility had claimed reinforcing the transformers of these grid stations.

Mr Aslam Khan, a resident of 23rd Street, Khayaban-i-Badban, Defence Phase V, complained that he had rung up KESC CEO Gen Amjad, the Executive Director, Distribution Syed Tanzeem Hussain Naqvi, and the divisional manager of the area, but they did not respond to his calls.

Similar complaints were also lodged by a resident of Defence Phase VI. Residents of Quality Heights, Block 8, near Teen Talwar, Clifton said they had been without power since 8am.