Overvoltage Damages Electronics in 300 Homes
- Severe overvoltage occurred after a portable transformer was connected
- Electronics in nearly 300 homes across three neighborhoods were damaged
- Affected residents are preparing damage lists and demanding compensation
A severe overvoltage incident in Rajshahi’s Katakhali Municipality has damaged televisions, refrigerators, air conditioners, electric bulbs and other electronic appliances in nearly 300 homes across three neighborhoods. The incident occurred around 2:00am on Tuesday after workers repaired a faulty transformer and restored electricity using a portable transformer in the Bakhrabaj area.
ON 13 August, 2026 Wednessday local sources said electricity supply to Bakhrabaj Mollapara, Bakhrabaj Madhyapara and Bakhrabaj Schoolpara was disrupted after a transformer near a mosque in the area became faulty on Monday night. After a prolonged outage, residents contacted the Katakhali office of Northern Electricity Supply Company, or NESCO.
NESCO workers visited the area and found that the transformer had become inoperable. Around 2:00am, they brought a portable transformer and restored the electricity connection. Immediately after the connection was switched on, an electric bulb in front of the mosque burned out. Seeing this, NESCO workers immediately disconnected the supply. However, by then electronic appliances in many homes across the three neighborhoods had already been damaged.
Following the incident, angry residents detained the NESCO workers. Some also assaulted them. Police later arrived and rescued the workers.
Nahidul Islam, convener of the Rajshahi district committee of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and a resident of the area, said, “Almost every house in the three neighborhoods has suffered damage to electronic appliances. Affected residents are coming to my house to lodge complaints and demand compensation. At least 300 families have been affected.”
Anwar Hossain, executive engineer of NESCO’s Rajshahi Sales and Distribution Division-5, said, “Electricity is supplied through three lines. If two lines become connected for any reason, unlimited electricity will flow. This is extremely dangerous. That is what happened in this case. It can happen at a customer’s house or on the main line. It is not possible to say exactly where it happened at this stage.”
Local resident Md. Sana said the electric bulbs, television, refrigerator and air conditioner at his home were damaged. He alleged that NESCO workers restored the connection with overvoltage, causing electronic appliances to burn as soon as the portable transformer was switched on. He demanded compensation.
Meanwhile, Katakhali Municipality BNP is preparing a list of affected residents to assess the damage. Municipality BNP convener Nurul Islam said there are around 300 homes in the area and a list is being prepared detailing the damage suffered by each household.
Regarding compensation, Executive Engineer Anwar Hossain said, “Electricity has both good and bad aspects. We always use electricity for good purposes. But when an accident occurs, it is not possible to compensate so many households.”
Mahbubul Alam Chowdhury, supervising engineer of NESCO Circle-1, and Ziaul Islam, chief engineer (Operations), said they had not been informed about the incident by the concerned sales and distribution division. They said they would look into the matter.
A severe overvoltage incident in Rajshahi’s Katakhali Municipality has damaged televisions, refrigerators, air conditioners, electric bulbs and other electronic appliances in nearly 300 homes across three neighborhoods. The incident occurred around 2:00am on Tuesday after workers repaired a faulty transformer and restored electricity using a portable transformer in the Bakhrabaj area.
[Rajshahi, August 13, 2026] Thursday, local sources said electricity supply to Bakhrabaj Mollapara, Bakhrabaj Madhyapara and Bakhrabaj Schoolpara was disrupted after a transformer near a mosque in the area became faulty on Monday night. After a prolonged outage, residents contacted the Katakhali office of Northern Electricity Supply Company, or NESCO.
NESCO workers visited the area and found that the transformer had become inoperable. Around 2:00am, they brought a portable transformer and restored the electricity connection. Immediately after the connection was switched on, an electric bulb in front of the mosque burned out. Seeing this, NESCO workers immediately disconnected the supply. However, by then electronic appliances in many homes across the three neighborhoods had already been damaged.
Following the incident, angry residents detained the NESCO workers. Some also assaulted them. Police later arrived and rescued the workers.
Nahidul Islam, convener of the Rajshahi district committee of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and a resident of the area, said, “Almost every house in the three neighborhoods has suffered damage to electronic appliances. Affected residents are coming to my house to lodge complaints and demand compensation. At least 300 families have been affected.”
Anwar Hossain, executive engineer of NESCO’s Rajshahi Sales and Distribution Division-5, said, “Electricity is supplied through three lines. If two lines become connected for any reason, unlimited electricity will flow. This is extremely dangerous. That is what happened in this case. It can happen at a customer’s house or on the main line. It is not possible to say exactly where it happened at this stage.”
Local resident Md. Sana said the electric bulbs, television, refrigerator and air conditioner at his home were damaged. He alleged that NESCO workers restored the connection with overvoltage, causing electronic appliances to burn as soon as the portable transformer was switched on. He demanded compensation.
Meanwhile, Katakhali Municipality BNP is preparing a list of affected residents to assess the damage. Municipality BNP convener Nurul Islam said there are around 300 homes in the area and a list is being prepared detailing the damage suffered by each household.
Regarding compensation, Executive Engineer Anwar Hossain said, “Electricity has both good and bad aspects. We always use electricity for good purposes. But when an accident occurs, it is not possible to compensate so many households.”
Mahbubul Alam Chowdhury, supervising engineer of NESCO Circle-1, and Ziaul Islam, chief engineer (Operations), said they had not been informed about the incident by the concerned sales and distribution division. They said they would look into the matter.
//DBTech/BNO/SME//
