Grid station catches fire

Published August 3, 2007

DADU, Aug 2: A fire broke out in a 500KV grid station here on Thursday burning a 160MVA transformer which disrupted power supply to many parts of Dadu, Nawabshah, Jamshoro and Naushahro Feroze districts.

The electricity supply was later restored. Resident engineer Taj Mohammad Soomro while talking to Dawn said that the blaze has been doused.

Executive engineer and SDO of Dadu grid station was leading the emergency fire control work.

A security official, Zafaryab Khan, was injured while trying to control the fire and admitted to the Civil Hospital.

SDO grid station, Zulfiqar Ali Solangi told Dawn that the fire broke out due to the overload. He said that it would take a month to install new transformer.

The spokesman of the Hesco, Mohammad Sadiq, said that the power supply has been restored to 25 feeders out of 33 in Dadu and Jamshoro from the parallel line of 132KV transmission line in Larkana.

A China-made 160MVA transformer, worth Rs20 million, was burnt while officials were trying to save another German made transformer installed in the grid station.

Chief engineer grid station, Nazeer Ahmed Bhayo was present at the spot.

Hesco has declared emergency in the grid station and had called fire brigade from Mehar and Sehwan.

Police ruled out any possibility of terrorist act.