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Grid infrastructureBangladeshEIR-1116

Fire and transformer explosions at Rampura grid substation in Dhaka

Apr 2020Published 20 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantElectrical
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supply cut for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate
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Where
Rampura substation, Dhaka
Operator
Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC)
What
Fire and transformer explosions
Injuries
None reported
Cause
Not reported

Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): Dhaka Power Distribution, Power Grid

What happened

On 11 April 2020, a fire broke out at around 1:55pm at a substation belonging to the Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) in the Rampura area of Dhaka. The Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) confirmed the incident. Seven fire service units from Khilgaon Fire Station responded and brought the fire under control by around 4:40pm, roughly two hours and forty five minutes after ignition. The fire damaged a power distribution line in the Mohanagar area of Hatirjheel and caused several distribution transformers in the Rampura and Hatirjheel areas to explode.

As a result, residents of the Mohanagar Housing Society lost electricity supply. No injuries were reported. At the time of reporting, the cause of the fire had not been determined.

Contributing factors

The cause of the fire had not been determined at the time of reporting.

Lessons learned

  1. Substation fires can cause nearby distribution transformers to explode, so operators must verify fast fault isolation on connected lines.
  2. A substation fire can damage a power distribution line and cut supply to residents, so operators need clear outage communication plans.

More lessons on electrical protection and isolation, outages, backup supply and restoration, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Equipment model and age
  • Duration of power outage
  • Cost of repairs

This entry is updated when these are reported. Get an alert for the next one like it.

Source

tbsnews.net

Other entries that name Rampura

Other entries that name Dhaka

Published 2026-09-20. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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Chart to reuse with this story: Grid infrastructure incidents in Bangladesh, by year, free with a credit (PNG).

Grid infrastructure incidents in Bangladesh: 18 entries, with a free alert for the next one.

Substation and transformer fires: the counts, the latest entries and a free alert for the next one. Also: transformer explosions.

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