Severe power outage hits Kabul after snowfall damages key transmission line

Recent heavy snowfall across Afghanistan has caused widespread disruptions, closing major transportation routes and triggering serious failures within the country’s fragile power infrastructure.

A critical 220-kilovolt transmission line importing electricity from Uzbekistan collapsed days ago between Pul-e-Khumri and Kabul, leaving the capital and 12 provinces facing power shortages.

The outage follows days of intense winter weather that strained already vulnerable systems, highlighting recurring seasonal risks to Afghanistan’s energy supply network.

The sudden electricity loss has disrupted daily routines, halted businesses, and intensified public frustration over repeated infrastructure failures and delayed emergency responses.

Daily life disrupted

Residents across Kabul report serious hardships as electricity shortages disrupt water supplies, heating, and essential household activities during freezing winter conditions.

"Since yesterday, we’ve had major issues due to the lack of electricity," TOLOnews quoted Rahimullah, a resident of a multi-story apartment block in Kabul.

"We barely had one hour of power. And because we live in an apartment block, when there’s no electricity, we don’t have water either."

Families living in apartment buildings appear especially affected, as water pumps and heating systems rely entirely on consistent electricity access.

Another resident, Imam Nazar, echoed similar concerns while urging authorities to act quickly to restore minimum electricity levels.

"We’re asking that the power be restored. At the very least, we should get the 5 to 6 hours of electricity we used to have," TOLOnews quoted him.

Residents say even limited, predictable electricity would allow households and small businesses to function more effectively during winter conditions.

Structural weaknesses exposed

Officials from Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), the national electricity utility, confirmed technical teams are prepared but currently unable to reach the damaged site.

"Unfortunately, the main issue is that the Salang Pass is blocked," Mohammad Sadiq Haqparast, a spokesperson for DABS, told TOLOnews.

"We are currently waiting for the road to reopen so our teams can access the area and fix the problem."

The Salang Pass serves as a critical route connecting northern regions to Kabul, and its closure frequently delays emergency infrastructure repairs.

In the meantime, DABS is supplying Kabul with a limited amount of electricity generated from thermal power sources.

This temporary solution only partially offsets the shortfall, leaving most residents with minimal and unpredictable electricity access.

The outage underscores Afghanistan’s heavy dependence on imported electricity and the vulnerability of aging transmission infrastructure during harsh winter conditions.

A former head of DABS previously noted that insufficient long-term investment has left transmission lines and pylons poorly reinforced against extreme weather.