National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has quizzed top management of Karachi Electric (KE) on recent power woes of Karachiites due to torrential rains. The KE explained its position with respect to failure of power supply and fatal accidents due to electrocution during the recent torrential rains on 29th and 30th July, 2019.
The regulator gave directions for effective remedial measures to save human lives at any cost and ensure continuous supply in view of the expected downpour in the next few days. Further directions were given to consider compensation to the families of the victims, who lost their lives due to electric shocks.
A four member team of Nepra visited Karachi. The committee will finalise its report after Eid-ul-Azha. According to KE spokesperson Khayyam Siddiqi, unprecedented rains and urban flooding in Karachi severely disrupted civic amenities and services, and a number of unfortunate incidents occurred. KE is extending full cooperation to various stakeholders in the process and will also submit a detailed report to the regulatory authority in due course. The management and employees of KE are deeply grieved over these unfortunate incidents and extend deepest sympathies to the affected families.
According to the spokesman, it is critical to acknowledge that as per various studies a large portion of Karachi is unplanned and includes encroachments in different areas. These slums and encroachments are infested with kundas, and despite multiple drives to remove these illegal power connections and report encroachments to law enforcement agencies the problem persists.
KE also took precautionary measures including preventive maintenance, network-wide inspections of the power infrastructure and strengthened vigilance of on-ground teams. As a safety precaution, electricity supply was suspended to areas which are highly prone to such incidents. However, a joint effort from all concerned stakeholders is critical to enforcing basic urban development protocols in a planned manner across the city and to eliminate the issue of illegal encroachments and kundas. KE is also approaching local administration, provincial and federal government bodies for coordinated efforts to cope with the challenges KE encounters in the provision of safe electricity during and after rain.