Blackout in 20 Ctg villages
A transformer of a 60MW power plant at Shikalbaha of Patiya upazila, Chittagong, was damaged in a fire yesterday afternoon leading to a blackout in more than 200 villages of five southern upazilas of the district.
The fire started in the transformer around 3:30pm, said Moniruzzaman, senior assistant director (PR) of Power Development Board (PDB), Chittagong.
Six fire engines managed to douse the flames within an hour, said Mohamamd Yahiya, assistant director of Fire Service and Civil Defence, Chittagong.
Power produced by three plants in the area was being supplied through the transformer.
Abdur Razzak, a resident at Patiya upazila, told The Daily Star that power supply stopped in the upazila around 3:30pm and it was not restored as of 6:20pm.
Contacted, Bhuban Bijoy Butta, superintendent engineer of PDB and project director of Shikalbaha plant, said electric short circuit was primarily assumed as the reason of the fire.
“At that time, the loop fell on the transformer making the situation worse,” he said, adding, “The transformer was heavily damaged in the fire.
“We are working relentlessly to resume the power supply to the upazilas in the southern part of Chittagong through alternative ways.”
Experts of PDB went to the plant and had started work, he added.
Over 20 lakh people live in the 200 villages.
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