Karachi plunges into darkness, yet again

Published July 12, 2015
A major technical breakdown at Bin Qasim thermal plant resulted in power blackout throughout the city up till Gharo. —Reuters/File
A major technical breakdown at Bin Qasim thermal plant resulted in power blackout throughout the city up till Gharo. —Reuters/File

KARACHI: A major part of the metropolis plunged into darkness again late on Saturday night — third such instance in a week’s time — as there were reports of a technical breakdown at Bin Qasim thermal plant, it has been learnt.

K-Electric sources revealed that due to the technical fault at Bin Qasim thermal power plant, more than 15 grid stations on the main supply line tripped resulting in power blackout throughout the city up till Gharo.

This is the third major power breakdown in the city in a span of one week, which happened due to a major fault that occurred in the transmission and distribution system of power distributor K-Electric.

The outage has affected a large number of areas in the city, including Liaqatabad, Malir, North Karachi, Azizabad, Saddar, Nazimabad, North Nazimabad, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Federal B Area and Garden.

There are reports that power supply to Port Qasim, Pakistan Steel Mills and industrial areas were also suspended.

The power breakdown also affected commercial activities of the city with business centres and markets turned dark, and people facing difficulties making their way out of densely populated shopping malls.

K-Electric did not give any timeframe when their engineers would fully rectify the fault.

People in various localities faced hardship because of the widespread breakdown that caught them unawares, particularly at a time when Ramazan’s final days have begun and preparations for Eid are round the corner.

Karachi’s electricity distribution system is a complex, and delicate, web and a major fault at one section often leads to chain reactions and breakdowns of power generation and transmission.

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.