Hpa-an Town’s lights back on

Hpa-an householders and students are finally out of the dark after four days without electricity.

Hpa-an Town residents were without electricity for four days from the 21st to the 25th of October. Students had to use candlelight during their preparation for their first semester exams.

A 60-years-old grandmother spoke to Karen News about the lack of electricity.

“The power came back on at the end of the school examinations. Schoolchildren had to study by candlelight to prepare for their school tests. It was very difficult for people who rely on electricity to cook and for people who have refrigerators. We are relieved now the power is back on.”

On October 21st, Hpa-an Town experienced power cuts all over the city.

A male resident from Section 5 told Karen News that it was a total disaster.

“As well as the power cuts, we couldn’t get our phone battery recharged. I have to communicate with work and if I can’t use my phone, there is nothing I can do. Not everyone has generators.”

Saw Win Naung Soe, an engineer from the electricity supply center in Hpa-an Town explained to Karen News.

“One of our 8-mega-watt transformers was burnt out. We don’t usually experience this kind of problem. We repaired and fixed the transformer to re-supply the electricity as soon as possible and in the meantime, we’ve ordered a new transformer.”

Most of the schools in Hpa-an Town finished their first semester school tests by the third week of October, but for the 4th, 8th, 9th and 10th grades, there was standardized test from the township level that the students had to take from October 24th to 26th, 2012.

Since the power failure on October 21, students had to rely on candlelight to study and some school dormitories used generators. Shops and stores in the downtown area also had to run generators.

Electricity supply to Hpa-an Town is provided by the Tarya Electricity Supply Station located in Thaton, electricity is also provided to Taungalay, Myaingalay, Hlaka, Donying and other nearby villages.