Saturday, April 9 2005 09:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: Militants had attempted to disrupt the function at Sher-e-Kashmir convention centre on Thursday evening (Apr 7, 2005) were the guests from Muzaffarabad were being welcomed by blasting two power transmission towers in Anantnag and Pulwama, plunging the entire Kashmir valley into darkness.

Militants blasted the Ishenpor-Pampore and Henani-Srinagar towers around 08:30 hrs (IST) when the function organised by the State Government in the honour of the bus passengers were in full swing.

Office of the Minister for power Mohammad Sharief Niaz said militants blasted a tower of 220-kv transmission line at Kazgund near Butingoo in Anantnag on Thursday evening plunging the valley into darkness.

Prior to this, it said, the ultras had also blasted two towers of 132 kv Chenani-Srinagar transmission line at Chersoo-Awantipora in Pulwama district between the intervening night of April 6-7.

The blasting of the transmission towers cut off power supply to the valley from northern grid and efforts are on to restore the power supply, it said.