PESHAWAR: Heavy rains disrupted the power transmission system across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday night and Tuesday, causing hours long breakdown.

The Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco)’s spokesperson said in a statement that inclement weather had affected 240 feeders after trees fell down on transmission lines that damaged cables. The statement said that power supply had been restored from 222 feeders while repair work on 18 others was under way.

It said that a crisis management cell had been established at Wapda House Peshawar to ensure smooth supply of electricity during eid and added that Pesco’s chief executive Engineer Jabar Khan would monitor the cell. The statement said that power supply from Kohat Road grid station had been resumed after installation of second MVA40 transformer.

Windstorm followed by downpour had caused widespread power break down in the provincial capital and other parts of the province on Monday night. According to the Met office 34mm rain was recorded at Peshawar’s city station while 26mm at the airport station.

Heavy rains were also reported from different areas of the province including merged tribal districts.

The Met office said that Kakol (Abbottabad) received 59mm rain, Parachinar 47mm, Cherat (Nowshera) 24mm, Rawalakot 2 mm, Malam Jabba 6mm and Dera Ismail Khan 9mm.

It is worth mentioning here that heavy rains had played havoc in Abbottabad last week.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2021