Heavy Fog Throws Pakistan's Power Grid into Disarray

Islamabad, Dense fog wreaked havoc on Pakistan's power transmission system on Sunday, causing widespread outages and highlighting vulnerabilities in the national grid. According to a spokesperson from the Power Division, heavy fog near Guddu triggered the tripping of multiple transmission lines operated by the National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC).

The affected lines included crucial 550 kV and 220 kV circuits, severely impacting power distribution across the country. The impact was further compounded by damage to a 500 kV circuit breaker at the Guddu Switchyard, resulting in significant disruptions to the flow of electricity.

While engineers work to restore power and assess the extent of the damage, concerns surround the cause of the circuit breaker malfunction. The Power Division spokesperson confirmed an investigation is underway to determine if the heavy fog directly contributed to the equipment failure.

This incident underscores the potential dangers of weather-related disruptions to critical infrastructure like the national power grid. Fog-induced tripping of transmission lines, while not uncommon, highlights the need for robust infrastructure and mitigation strategies to ensure uninterrupted power supply.