Karachi Blackout as KESC Transmission Lines Tripped

Major part of Karachi plunged into darkness on Saturday night as some of the KESC transmission lines tripped.

Reportedly, two 220 kilovolt (KV) lines and three 132 KV lines stopped working, disrupting power at 20 of KESC’s 60 grid stations.

Express Tribune quoted a KESC spokesperson, citing the reason for the blackout as, “(It can be result of) rain, strong winds or theft of power lines,” adding the circuits were located on the outskirts of the city.

The power outage occurred mostly in southern parts of the city including Clifton, Defence, Saddar, PECHS and their surrounding areas. Later the blackout spread to as far as Malir and North Nazimabad. Parts of Gulshan-e-Iqbal were also affected in early hours of Sunday morning.

Blackouts and power outages in Karachi are common since the new administration of KESC has taken over the affairs. The power management company spends a fortune on advertisements and propagation of a positive image, while on ground it has done nothing significant to improvise the power crisis in Karachi.

Just couple of months back there was another massive blackout in Karachi.

This is happening when Kaya Bey, world’s largest power generation ship, has docked at the shores of Karachi since last two years, doing nothing.

Despite of a power outage that stretched to more than 10 hours in some areas, Karachiites hanged to Social Media, updating and sharing their misery with rest of the world.

Areas effected by Karachi blackout:

North nazimabad block w @chowrangidotcom: Which areas of Karachi are effected by this blackout? Plz RT with your area if you are in …#KESC

— Kashif Malim (@KashifMalim) August 4, 2012

Garden West@chowrangidotcom: Which areas of Karachi are effected by this blackout? Plz RT with your area if you are in the dark. #KESC

— Rashid Rupani (@rashidrupani) August 4, 2012

Blackout in Karachi defence!

— Zee (@Zeemayet) August 4, 2012

Power outage witnessed from Malir to Airport & surroundings+ Shah Faisal Colony. Blackout #Karachi #KESC

— Hina Safdar (@hinasafi) August 4, 2012

RT clifton “@chowrangidotcom: Which areas of Karachi are effected by this blackout? Plz RT with your area if you are in the dark. #KESC”

— Junnaid Asif (@JunnaidAsif) August 5, 2012

Defence “@chowrangidotcom: Which areas of Karachi are effected by this blackout? Plz RT with your area if you are in the dark. #KESC“”

— Ahad Chaudhry(@anchaudhry007) August 5, 2012

N. Nazimabad”@chowrangidotcom: Which areas of Karachi are effected by this blackout? Plz RT with your area if you are in the dark. #KESC“”

— Proud Pakistani (@hbk_lifeonthego) August 5, 2012

Reaction on the blackout:

Dear Karachi, what do you expect when #RajaRental is your PM and KESC is the electricity provider? #Blackout

— Kashif Aziz (@kashaziz) August 4, 2012

Seems to be a blackout #Karachi .

— Maheen Khan (@Maheenkhanpk) August 4, 2012

Half of Karachi witnessing blackout. Very unfamiliar and very much punjab like situation. KESC’s transmissions line trip. Efforts to restore

— Osama Athar (@oa204) August 4, 2012

so dad called & informed that there’s a #blackout in #karachi & it’s all over dxb’s news channels Really?I thought defence ki light gai bus.

— Amtul Anum Sultan (@AmtulAnum) August 4, 2012

No electricity in Defence since 8pm? Why you pay no bills on time, O People of the other side of the bridge? #Karachi #Blackout

— Kashif Aziz (@kashaziz) August 4, 2012

Actually that awkward moment when you can’t be happy because #Karachiholds the record for the longest blackout in a day-Yes #KESCisabitch

— Hammad (@hammadsarfraz) August 5, 2012