Increased attacks on power lines

LAHORE: Attacks on electricity transmission lines are on the rise, as three pylons have been blown up in one day and the Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) has enhanced security to save transmission lines in turbulent areas.

According to a press statement on Saturday, saboteurs blew up two towers of a 500KV transmission line of the National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC) and damaged two other pylons. The pylons were situated in village Abdullah Shoro in Loni Kot, Sindh. The Bomb Disposal Squad removed explosive devices from other pylons and defused them.

In another incident, unidentified persons blew up a tower of the 220KV Shikarpur-Uch transmission line near village Allah Yar, suspending electricity supply to many areas. PEPCO restored the electricity supply using alternate resources, while rehabilitation work was underway. The NTDC engineers were engaged in the repair work after explosions on August 12.

Eight explosions: In one month, more than eight such incidents took place, disrupting the power supply to some areas. The transmission lines affected by windstorm and violence included the 220KV Sheikh Muahmmadi-Daudkhel tranmsion line, the 220KV Sibbi-Quetta industrial transmission line, the 220KV Tarbela-Sheikh Muhammdi Peshawar line and the 500KV Tarbela-Ghazi Brotha Line-I, near Attock. While the 500KV Multan-Yousafwala transmission line (near Khanewal), the 220KV AES Pak Generation line near Kot Addu and the 500KV Tarbela-Sheikh Muhammadi Peshawar transmission line were all damaged in windstorms. However, NTDC engineers repaired and restored power in the shortest possible time in Balochistan, Sindh and NWFP. staff report