Khulna division faces prolonged power outage

Hundreds of thousands of residents in Khulna, Bagerhat, and Satkhira were plunged into darkness due to Cyclone Remal, which damaged Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board’s power lines at 1,121 locations.

A total of 207 electric poles fell, affecting over 1.36 million customers across 46 substations for more than 24 hours.

As per the latest updates, 50% of Khulna's residents, 10% of Bagerhat's, and 70% of Satkhira's have had their power restored on Tuesday morning. 

In Khulna, the Rural Electrification Office reported that 432,000 out of 435,000 customers under 17 substations were affected. The damage included 16 transmitters, eight fallen poles, and 100 damaged lines.

Md Shahidul Islam, DGM of the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board in Bagerhat, stated that 480,000 out of 485,000 customers were without electricity on Monday. 

Ziaur Rahman, general manager of the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board in Satkhira, reported that 450,000 consumers under 12 substations were without power, with 85 poles damaged and issues at 621 power line locations.

Meteorologist Amirul Azad, in charge of the Khulna Met office, noted that Khulna experienced 181mm of rain due to Cyclone Remal. The cyclone’s intensity lasted until Monday night.

Over 27 million consumers in the coastal region of the country were without electricity for hours due to the impact of Cyclone Remal.

Out of this, 26,626,550 consumers are covered by 80 units of the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board.

Besides, 4,53,081 consumers of the West Zone Power Distribution Company are without electricity.

The information was provided by the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources on Monday evening.