Rain, thunderstorm knock down power grid

LAHORE : Severe thunder and dust storm in the city and surrounding areas uprooted power transmission and distribution, disconnecting power to large swath of central Punjab.

The Saturday evening severe thunder and dust storm has brought the power transmission and distribution system to its knees, leaving thousands of consumers in the dark. The Lesco power distribution network, which was already under strain due to years of neglect, has been severely impacted, resulting in widespread power outages in hundreds of feeders. Consumers are facing extended periods without electricity, disrupting daily life, businesses, and industries.

Power utility's consumer outreach has been weak, leaving many unaware of outages resumption or progress on repairs. Downed power lines and debris-littered streets pose a significant risk to public safety, particularly for pedestrians and motorists. Consumers expect Lesco to restore power supply as soon as possible, ensuring the safety and reliability of the distribution network. According to an official, Lesco deployed emergency response teams to address the situation, repair damaged infrastructure, and restore power supply.

On the other hand, tripping occurred at three NTDC grid stations. According to the spokesperson for National Grid Company, tripping occurred at 220 kv Band Road, Ghazi, and New Kot Lakhpat grid stations at 5:31 pm.