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Download PDF After disruption of over 36 hours, life is returning to normalcy in the capital with restoration of utility services snapped by the cyclone Sidr that ripped through the country in the early hours Friday.
A domino effect on water and other public utilities followed the cyclone with power outage forcing the city people to spend a night and day amid the dark, tension and uncertainty.
The tropical cyclone left power lines snapped, trees uprooted and roads strewn with wayside billboards in different city areas.
The authorities of Dhaka City Corporation removed the uprooted trees and Dhaka Electric Supply Authority (Desa) and other cable operators were seen repairing the cables and other wires snapped by storm winds.
With resumption of power in between 11:00pm on Friday and early hours yesterday, city dwellers heaved a sigh of relief.
“After living in darkness for the last several hours, power resumed at 12:30am. At one stage I was beginning to worry that it would take two to three more days to resume power supply,” Benzir Hassan, a resident of Uttara, told The Daily Star.
Water, telecommunications and internet services also resumed in the capital in the early hours yesterday.
Power supply to Bangabhaban, Prime Minister’s Office and other key points was restored around 11:30am on Friday. Hospitals and television channels were also given power on urgent basis.
Those who were stranded in different nearby districts started rushing to the capital. The city markets and shopping malls were beginning to be buzzing with activities.
POWER AUTHORITIES’ NEWS CONFERENCE
Meanwhile, Power Development Board Chairman Shawkat Ali yesterday said it would take three to fours more days to restore normal power supply in the entire country.
The PDB has already ensured power supply to 98 percent areas except the cyclone-hit ones.
At a press conference at Bidyut Bhaban in the city, Ali said power supply in the cyclone-hit coastal belt, especially in Barguana and Pirojpur, would be normal within the next three to four days.
He said they are working hard to repair most of the towers, electric poles and wires badly damaged by the Sidr.
“We’ve already been able to resume power supply in the capital last night [Friday night] and we’re trying to give our relentless efforts to bring the system to normality,” he added.
He also said they could generate on Friday around 650MW of electricity by 5:00pm. But the generation soon collapsed as the demand increased rapidly. Eventually, they were able to generate 1,789MW power by 2:00am.
“Some big power plants are supposed to start operation by today [yesterday]. We have targeted 2,900MW demand in the peak hours in the evening across the country and we are hopeful to generate 2,700MW,” Ali said.
Several 33KV towers were damaged and cables of 11KV were snapped in the west zone and some more time will be needed to repair those.
Desa Chairman Brig Gen Nazmul Hasan said they have ensured distribution of power to almost every part of the city.
Several 330 11KV feeders were damaged that has now been repaired, he said, adding they are yet to repair a sub-station in Dhanmondi.
“We’re trying to distribute electricity in Dhanmondi partially. It will take two to three more days for fulltime supply. That is why residents of the area have to face load shedding for two to three more days,” he said.
Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) Managing Director ABM Harunur Rashid and Rural Electrification Board (REB) Chairman Habibullah Majumder were present at the conference.
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