Remal knocks out power for 2.35 crore users

Electricity supply to 2.35 crore customers in different regions of Bangladesh's coastal belt has been cut off due to the impact of Cyclone Remal.

Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (REB) has suspended electricity supply in several coastal areas of the country to prevent extensive damage.

Many areas have been without power for the past 16 to 17 hours, said REB officials.

They said after the effects of the storm passed, power workers in some areas went to the field to fix the lines. However, it is difficult to say when the whole situation will be normal.

Debashish Chakraborty, a member of REB, told Views Bangladesh that once the storm stops completely, REB electricians will switch the lines back on after testing them.

The decision was made to prevent further damage to life and property during the natural calamity, he said.

During the normal day, the electricity demand in the country is 12,000 megawatts, but at 1 pm on Monday, the electricity demand in the country was 5,399 megawatts. So, the demand is less than half compared to other days.