Electricity supply restored in Buthidaung and Maungdaw after two months

Two border towns in western Myanmar namely Buthidaung and Maungdaw, where the electricity was cut off due to the cyclonic storm, now get the supply.

The authority has restored the supply in both the Rakhine townships on Thursday in the morning hours from the national power grid.

Ko Maung Mayu, a resident of Buthidaung, said that most of the areas of their town have received the supply.  But in some areas the power lines are still broken since Mocha struck two months back. So it will take some days to restore the electricity supply fully in the town, he added.

In Maungdaw, priority has been given to schools and government offices, while restoring the supply. Private residences are yet to receive the supply, said U Ko Lat Tun, a local resident.

"The department officials informed that the transformers were already distributed to various places. After inspection one by one, those will be installed. I don't think they have enough people to work simultaneously,” he added.

When Mocha hit Rakhine State on 14 May, 10 townships namely Sittwe, Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Rathedaung, Pauktaw, Mrauk U, Min Bya, Maebon, Kyauk Taw and Ponna Kyunt witnessed major destruction of electricity sub-stations, electric poles and power lines.

The electricity supply to all the Rakhine townships was cut off immediately. Now the department has started resuming its operation engaging more than 1,000 employees in the State.

Sittwe and Ponna Kyunt got electricity on 7 June, followed by Kyauk Taw (18 June), Mrauk  U, Min Bya & Maebon (23 June) and Rathedaung & Pauk Taw (5 July).

Residents alleged that apart from 10 villages under these 10 townships, many other rural areas are still deprived of electric supply from the power grid.

As the electricity went out of order, the Rakhine people faced a lot of difficulties in their livelihood. Even the internet and phone connectivity were also frequently interrupted, which has affected the State economy enormously.