Rain and Dust Storm Leave Most of Hyderabad Without Electricity
HYDERABAD — A dust storm followed by monsoon rain caused an almost complete electricity shutdown across Hyderabad, leaving residents of the city and surrounding areas without power.
The Hyderabad Electric Supply Company, commonly known as HESCO, suspended electricity from 157 of Hyderabad’s 166 11kV feeders after rain began on Saturday evening.
This means approximately 95 per cent of the city’s feeders were taken offline.
Across HESCO’s wider service region in the Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas divisions, electricity was suspended from 355 of 722 feeders.
Hyderabad electricity outage at a glance
| Item | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Total Hyderabad feeders | 166 |
| Feeders suspended | 157 |
| Approximate share affected | 95% |
| Total feeders in HESCO region | 722 |
| Feeders affected regionally | 355 |
| Hyderabad airport rainfall | 10mm |
| Hyderabad city rainfall | 5mm |
The outage followed a dust storm accompanied by light-to-moderate rain in Hyderabad City, Latifabad and Qasimabad. Heavier showers were reported in Tandojam and other parts of interior Sindh.
Why did HESCO suspend electricity?
HESCO said electricity was switched off as a safety precaution after the dust storm and rain affected its distribution network.
Wet electrical equipment, damaged wires, fallen trees and compromised transmission infrastructure can create electrocution and fire hazards. Feeders therefore require inspection before power can safely be restored.
HESCO spokesperson Sadiq Kubar said restoration would proceed in phases after field teams inspected the affected lines and gave clearance to grid stations.
The company did not initially provide a single restoration time for all affected areas.
Dust storm reaches dangerous speed
According to meteorological observations reported from Hyderabad, the dust storm began at approximately 5:40 p.m. and continued for around 30 minutes.
Wind speed was recorded at about 40 nautical miles at one location and 30 nautical miles at the airport weather office.
The storm was followed by rainfall that brought temporary relief from the prolonged hot and humid conditions affecting the city.
Hyderabad airport recorded 10 millimetres of rain, while the city weather office registered 5 millimetres.
Heritage building partially damaged
The severe weather also damaged a historic building near Pucca Qila.
Part of the outer structure of Ganga Ram Niwas, located near the Mukhi House Museum, collapsed onto an adjoining street during the storm and rainfall.
Authorities closed access to the area and shut nearby shops and warehouses while the debris was assessed and removed.
No injuries were reported in the building collapse.
Residents should avoid standing near old walls, damaged buildings, billboards, trees and unstable structures during further rain or strong winds.
Rain affects other Sindh districts
Heavy monsoon rain was also reported in several districts of lower Sindh, including:
Mirpurkhas
Badin
Tharparkar
Tandojam
Naukot
Tando Allahyar
Parts of the Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas divisions
One man was reported killed by lightning near Naukot in Mirpurkhas district.
Animals were also reportedly killed in lightning incidents in Tharparkar. These incidents underline the danger of remaining in open fields during thunderstorms.
Is electricity being restored?
HESCO said affected feeders would be restored in phases after its teams completed safety inspections.
Electricity may return at different times in different neighbourhoods because every feeder requires separate clearance. A feeder may remain offline if teams identify damaged conductors, fallen poles, trees touching wires or water around electrical installations.
Residents should not attempt to handle damaged wires or repair neighbourhood connections themselves.
Consumers experiencing an extended outage should register a complaint through HESCO’s official complaint channels and retain the complaint number.
Safety precautions during rain and power outages
Residents should take the following precautions:
Stay away from electricity poles, transformers and distribution boxes.
Never touch a fallen or hanging electrical cable.
Treat every damaged wire as live, even when the area has no electricity.
Do not walk or drive through water near electrical installations.
Switch off sensitive appliances during voltage fluctuations.
Unplug televisions, computers and chargers until power stabilises.
Avoid using generators in enclosed areas.
Keep generators away from rainwater and household wiring.
Use battery lights instead of candles where possible.
Keep children away from standing water, drains and electricity infrastructure.
Report sparking transformers and fallen wires immediately.
Keep phones and power banks charged when further rain is forecast.
How to report an electricity emergency
A routine outage and an electrical emergency should be treated differently.
An extended power failure may be reported through HESCO’s official consumer-complaint system. However, sparking transformers, fallen conductors, damaged poles and electrified water require urgent attention.
When reporting an emergency, provide:
The exact location
A nearby landmark
The feeder or transformer number, if known
The consumer reference number
A clear description of the danger
Whether a person or animal has been injured
Do not approach the hazard to take photographs.
Key facts
A dust storm and rain affected Hyderabad on Saturday evening.
HESCO suspended 157 of the city’s 166 feeders.
Across its wider operational region, 355 of 722 feeders were affected.
Restoration was planned in phases after safety inspections.
Hyderabad airport recorded 10mm of rain.
Part of a heritage building collapsed, but no injuries were reported.
One lightning-related death was reported near Naukot.
Residents have been warned to stay away from poles and electrical equipment.
Frequently asked questions
Why is most of Hyderabad without electricity?
HESCO suspended electricity from 157 of the city’s 166 feeders after a dust storm and rain. The company described the shutdown as a safety measure pending inspection of its distribution network.
When will electricity be restored?
HESCO said electricity would return in phases after field teams inspected affected lines and cleared individual feeders. No universal restoration time was announced.
How many feeders were affected?
In Hyderabad, 157 of 166 feeders were suspended. Across HESCO’s wider service territory, 355 of 722 feeders were affected.
Was the rainfall heavy in Hyderabad?
The rainfall in central Hyderabad was generally light to moderate. The airport recorded 10mm, while the city weather office recorded 5mm. Other districts of lower Sindh experienced heavier rain.
What should I do if a wire has fallen?
Do not approach or touch it. Keep people and animals away and report it immediately to the electricity provider and emergency authorities. Assume the wire is live even during an outage.
Should appliances remain connected when electricity returns?
Sensitive appliances should remain unplugged until the electricity supply appears stable. Power restoration can sometimes be accompanied by voltage fluctuations.
What residents should watch next
Residents should monitor official weather forecasts and HESCO announcements for restoration updates.
Further rain or strong winds could delay repairs or force additional safety shutdowns. Any HESCO announcement confirming complete restoration should be published as a separate update rather than silently added to the original report.
Sources
The feeder shutdown, restoration procedure, rainfall measurements and building damage were confirmed through reports from The Express Tribune, Dawn and The Nation.