Staff Reporter
Karachi
Pakistan Army’s and Pakistan Ranger’s timely assistance proved critical in averting a crisis situation when floodwaters entered Karachi Electric’s KDA grid.
As per details, torrential monsoon rains caused Lath Dam near Super Highway to overflow and floodwater entered the grid which is located at Gulzar-i-Hijri, Scheme-33.
This is a strategic 220 KV grid installation which also serves as an interconnection point between KE and the national grid.
On KE’s request the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Rangers responding promptly to the threat mobilized all resources including equipment and manpower and worked with the KE team which was present on site and helped to bring the situation under control.
In a statement, Chairman Ikram Sehgal and CEO of K-Electric Moonis Alvi have expressed their appreciation for the timely response by the Pak Army and the Rangers to avert a major disaster.
Later, K-Electric spokesperson in a statement while giving details said, when the dam started to overflow Tuesday night and the water entered the KDA grid, as an emergency safety measure KE was forced to suspend supply to feeders associated with this grid which affected power supply to parts of Sohrab Goth, Abul Hassan Isphahani Road, Super Highway, KWSB’s NEK Pumping station.
“Had water levels continued to rise the entire grid would have had to be shut down to ensure the safety of people and equipment, which given the critical importance of this grid to KE’s network, would have affected power supply to several areas including Gulshan, Azizabad, Liaqatabad, Malir, FB Area, Surjani, Shadman, Johar and Shah Faisal” further said the spokesperson.
KE directed immediate rescue and repair teams to the site with pumps, sandbags and other equipment to stem the inflow.
The arrival of Pakistan Army contingents with heavy machinery, bulldozers and pumps helped avert a crisis, the statemetn further said.
Pak Army and Rangers are still engaged in helping KE teams to deal with the threat by building dams, digging trenches and using sandbags to divert the flow of the water and manage the emergency. All efforts are being made to manage this situation and swiftly and safely restore power supply to the affected areas.
