A Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) tower collapsed onto a market in the Drone Naro area of Umerkot, disrupting Ufone services and causing a major power outage. According to media reports, the tower had been standing for 25 years but collapsed due to a lack of maintenance.  As a result of the incident, hundreds of homes lost electricity, and Ufone users faced service disruptions in the area. 

The tower crashed onto the roof of a market, but fortunately, no casualties were reported among residents and shopkeepers.  Local residents have demanded immediate restoration of electricity and internet services by repairing or replacing the damaged PTCL infrastructure.  Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd., commonly known as PTCL, is the national telecommunications company in Pakistan.

It is the largest integrated information communication technology (ICT) company in Pakistan.  It is also worth mentioning here that the company (PTCL) has posted an operating profit of Rs 8.2 billion during the first nine months of 2024, which is 27.6% higher as compared to the same period of 2023, but there was a lack of focus on maintenance of towers.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)