KOHAT, May 8: The city and adjoining tribal areas suffered a major power breakdown lasting about 10 hours on Monday.

The power was disrupted right after light rain lashed the city at 4pm, and the black-out continued till 2.30am.

Pesco and grid station officials blamed each other for the fault and unannounced load-shedding at district level, which is carried out to control line losses and power theft.

The grid staff said that power supply to Hangu had been restored after a week from Thall feeders. They said that Wapda had dispatched a 37-MVA transformer instead of the 54-MVA required to handle the load, adding that previously, a 40 MVA transformer had been installed.

An official said that the power supply to the Orakzai Agency, suspended at the same time, had not been restored after 12 days, adding that the problem was not likely to be solved any time soon.

He said that the Kohat grid’s 18 breakers had to bear an immense load as it supplied power to the Darra Adam Khel, Orakzai Agency and Hangu. “The Tribal Electric Supply Company had solved the power supply problem to Darra Adam Khel by installing a 420-ampere breaker. As soon as the load crosses 420-ampere, it automatically trips.