VEHARI, July 15: Around a dozen towns of the three southern Punjab districts may not get power supply for three days after a major power breakdown caused by the eruption of fire in two control rooms of the Vehari grid station on Thursday morning.

The fire was so intense that all the equipment of control rooms, 132-KV and 11-KV, on the Vehari-Burewala Road was reduced to ashes within 15 minutes. However, the local fire brigade brought the flames under control after hectic efforts of one hour.

The power supply to Vehari, Luden, Karampur, Hasilpur, Nursar, Burewala, Chishtian, Dharanwala, Khairpur Tamewali, Minchinabad and McLeod Gang in Vehari, Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar districts was suspended.

Local Mepco officials, including Deputy Director (Technical) Abdul Mateen Khan, Manager Operation Circle Shafqat Asgher Tahir and XEN Operation Syed Liaquat Shah rushed to the spot.

Talking to Dawn, Mr Mateen Khan said the cause of the fire could not be ascertained so far. He estimated the loss of about Rs50 million. However, he said the exact figure would come to light after an inquiry.

A Mepco employee on the condition of anonymity gave out that the incident occurred owing to the negligence of the duty staff. He claimed that the staff was not present at the time of the incident.

When contacted, employee Muhammad Rafiq claimed that all the staff was present at the grid station during the fire incident. According to Mepco officials, the power supply would be restored temporarily during the next two or three days.

They said it would not be possible to replace the gutted equipment of control rooms before two months. Meanwhile, five people fell unconscious due to power suspension amid hot and humid weather at Union Council No I, city area.

Aslam, Yahya, Baber, Yaqoob and Hafeez were admitted to different clinics for treatment. The people in Vehari protested against the negligence of officials of Vehari grid station and demanded strict action against them.

They also demanded immediate restoration of the power supply because the simmering heat was causing great inconvenience to them. Most of them were forced to pass their day under the shades of trees.

All social activities and work in government offices are almost seized up. The prices of generators have also gone up by at least 30 per cent. Meanwhile, Wapda chairman Tariq Hameed formed a three-member inquiry committee comprising Multan grid station project director Abdul Hameed, Muzaffargarh grid station XEN Mian Abdul Ghafoor and Multan grid protection XEN Wajid Ali.

He said the inquiry committee would submit its report within a week. Strict action would be taken against the responsible officials after the findings of the inquiry report.

The chairman also issued orders for the replacement of new 132-KV transformer which would be transported to Vehari from Karachi in two days. According to Wapda press release, the damaged transformer would be replaced by July 20.

Talking to newsmen, Mepco chief engineer Salahuddin said that 14 panels of control rooms were gutted, suspending power supply to as many feeders in Vehari tehsil. He claimed that power supply to five towns had been restored.

He said the affected feeders were: Factory Feeder, Noor Shah Feeder, Taimoor Shaheed Feeder, Water Works Feeder, Bilal Feeder, City One Feeder, MES Thingi Feeder, 22/WB Feeder, Machiwal Feeder, Ratta Tibba Feeder, 37/WB New Feeder, SS Oil Mill Feeder, 37/WB Old Feeder and City No 2 Feeder.

However, the Wapda press release claimed that the transformer of 20/26 MVA had been damaged along with 17 panels of 11 KV installed at the control room. It further said that the staff was working to replace 11 KV panels and supply from one existing transformer was likely to be restored by Friday (today).

It also claimed that the power supply to the nine affected grid stations and 50 per cent area of Vehari town from the adjoining grid station had been restored.