Flood Submerges Dighinala Power Substation, Sajek Without Electricity

A power substation in Dighinala, Khagrachhari, has been temporarily shut down after floodwater entered the facility following several days of continuous rainfall and hill runoff. The shutdown was carried out as a safety measure to prevent any major accident and protect electrical equipment from potential damage.

The disruption has left the entire Dighinala upazila in Khagrachhari, along with Langadu upazila in Rangamati and the popular Sajek tourist area, without electricity. Thousands of residents, businesses and visitors have been affected by the sudden power outage.

The Dighinala power substation stopped operations at around 3:00 pm on Wednesday (8 July). Since then, electricity supply to the connected areas has remained suspended as authorities assess the situation and wait for floodwaters to recede.

Md Ershad Ali, Sub-Assistant Engineer of the Dighinala power substation, said floodwater had entered and submerged parts of the facility. Considering the risks associated with operating electrical equipment in flooded conditions, the authorities decided to temporarily suspend operations.

He said the power supply would be restored after the water level decreases and engineers complete necessary inspections to ensure the substation is safe for operation.

The disruption has caused difficulties for people living in the affected areas. Local residents said the absence of electricity has affected daily activities, including mobile phone charging, water pumping systems, businesses and other essential services. Many shops and small businesses have faced additional challenges as they depend on uninterrupted electricity for their operations.

The impact has been particularly noticeable in Sajek, one of Bangladesh’s most popular hill tourism destinations. Hotels, resorts and local businesses in the area have been forced to rely on alternative arrangements while waiting for power restoration. Tourists visiting the scenic region have also experienced inconvenience due to the outage.

The latest disruption comes amid worsening weather conditions in the hilly districts of Bangladesh. Continuous rainfall and sudden flows of water from higher areas often cause flooding in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, affecting roads, communication networks and electricity infrastructure.

Dighinala and surrounding areas have experienced increased water levels due to heavy rainfall over recent days. The region’s mountainous terrain makes it more vulnerable to flash floods and landslides during periods of intense monsoon activity.

Electricity officials are monitoring the situation closely and are expected to resume operations once conditions improve. However, if rainfall continues and floodwaters remain high, restoring normal electricity services may take additional time.

Authorities have urged residents to remain cautious during the ongoing weather situation and avoid approaching flooded electrical installations, as such areas may pose serious safety risks.