ISLAMABAD:Despite the restoration of 572 feeders, thousands of flood-hit families remain without electricity, enduring darkness and extreme heat.
For families across Pakistan’s flood-ravaged regions, the rising waters have brought more than destruction of homes and crops; they have left entire communities in darkness. With grid stations and feeders submerged, electricity has been cut off for days, adding another layer of hardship for people already reeling from the disaster.
According to the Power Division’s latest report issued on 19th Septemebr, 51 grid stations and 579 feeders were damaged nationwide by floodwaters. By September 19, restoration teams had managed to fully energize 341 feeders and partially restore 231, but thousands of households are still waiting for reconnection.
In Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) areas, where 28 grids and 81 feeders were hit, over 33,500 consumers remain affected. Although 49 feeders are now fully functional, 32 are still partially restored. The government expects complete recovery between September 19 and 20.
For people like Riaz Ahmad, a farmer in Muzaffargarh, the delay means unbearable nights. “Our children sleep in the open because it is too hot without fans inside. We light candles, but they burn out quickly and cost too much. The flood took our crops, and the darkness is taking our peace,” he said.
In Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) areas — Lahore, Nankana, Sheikhupura, and Okara — almost all 67 affected feeders have been restored, benefiting most of the 4,800 consumers.
Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) faces one of the toughest challenges, with 181 feeders damaged. Only 17 are fully restored and 157 are partially working, but officials say full repairs cannot begin until water levels recede.
In Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO) areas, 103 feeders went down; 101 have been restored, though some 200 consumers are still disconnected. Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) has largely normalized supply in Swat, Swabi, and Dera Ismail Khan, with 88 feeders restored fully. Tribal Electric Supply Company (TESCO) has restored 17 of 18 feeders in North Waziristan and Khyber, with the last expected back online by September 20.
The Power Division, in a statement, insisted that restoration is progressing as fast as conditions allow. Engineers and linemen have been working round the clock, often wading waist-deep through flooded areas to reconnect feeders. Officials stress that safety is paramount, as energizing submerged lines poses electrocution hazards.
Nationwide, authorities hope to reconnect most remaining households by September 20. But for victims who have already lost everything, each extra day without light, fans, or refrigeration feels like an eternity.
