Blackout hits Bangladesh

Published November 1, 2014
A  woman fans a sick child during a power blackout at a hospital. - Photo by AFP
A woman fans a sick child during a power blackout at a hospital. - Photo by AFP
A patient lies on her bed during the power blackout at a hospital in Dhaka. - Photo by AFP
A patient lies on her bed during the power blackout at a hospital in Dhaka. - Photo by AFP
A man walks in a shopping mall during the blackout in Dhaka. - Photo by AP
A man walks in a shopping mall during the blackout in Dhaka. - Photo by AP
Garment workers walk out of their work stations after the garment factory they are employed in closed early due to the blackout. - Photo by AP
Garment workers walk out of their work stations after the garment factory they are employed in closed early due to the blackout. - Photo by AP
A  fishmonger lights his fish stall with candles during the power blackout. -  Photo by AFP
A fishmonger lights his fish stall with candles during the power blackout. - Photo by AFP
Fishmongers light their fish stalls with candles.-  Photo by AFP
Fishmongers light their fish stalls with candles.- Photo by AFP

A massive nationwide power blackout hit Bangladesh on Saturday after a transmission line failed, leaving homes, businesses and shops in the densely-populated country without electricity. Power was restored in some parts of the capital Dhaka after several hours, and authorities said they hoped to have electricity back on across the nation of 155 million by Saturday evening.

Local media said the problem stemmed from a technical problem at an electrical substation that was distributing power from India, but government officials would not confirm the reports.

The blackout hit at the weekend, lessening the impact on industry. Temperatures have also passed their summer peak, limiting complaints over the stoppage of fans and air conditioning units.

Many people in rural chronically energy-short Bangladesh, used to regular power cuts lasting many hours, did not know that the blackout was nationwide. But homes and shops went without power, and elevators were halted.

The presidential palace, the prime minister's office, government offices and television stations were all hit by the outage. Hospital intensive care units functioned on back-up generators, but ward patients suffered.

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