Hey Lykkers! Imagine living in a country where a monkey could knock out the entire power grid—sounds like a wild story, right?
Well, it actually happened in Sri Lanka, and it was all because of one little mischievous macaque.
Sri Lanka faced a massive power outage that affected the entire country, causing chaos for millions of people.
What made this outage truly bizarre wasn’t just the fact that the power went out—it was because of a monkey! Yes, you read that right. A macaque managed to sneak into a major electricity station in the Panadura area, just south of the capital, Colombo, and caused an electrical short circuit by tampering with a transformer.
This wasn’t just an inconvenience—it had real consequences. As the country was plunged into darkness, traffic lights failed, creating severe traffic jams in Colombo and other big cities. Businesses were disrupted, and banks had to shut down temporarily.
Even the healthcare system struggled. Hospitals had to rely on backup generators to continue life-saving operations, especially in critical care units.
Imagine the heat, too. With no air conditioning or fans working, many people were forced to leave their homes and seek relief in public spaces. It was a tough day for everyone!
So, how did this happen? The monkey climbed into the power station, made contact with a transformer, and caused a complete system failure. According to Sri Lanka’s Minister of Energy, Kumara Jayakody, authorities have launched an investigation to figure out how the monkey got into the station and whether any safety lapses contributed to this bizarre incident.
While this particular power outage was due to an unusual cause, Sri Lanka’s power grid is known to be outdated and vulnerable. Experts have been warning for years that even a small disturbance can cause a nationwide blackout.
This is far from the first power crisis Sri Lanka has faced. In 2022, the country suffered a severe energy shortage due to a fuel crisis, leading to power rationing for up to 13 hours a day. The situation was made worse by an economic crisis, which led to fuel shortages, impacting the country’s ability to generate power.
Sri Lanka Faces Nationwide Blackout, Officials Claim Monkey Causes Power Outage | WION Dispatch
Video By "WION"
Adding to the country's woes, Sri Lanka is also dealing with a massive population of macaque monkeys. With an estimated 2 to 3 million macaques roaming the island, they often cause trouble by raiding crops, damaging property, and even attacking people. This particular monkey, however, might have taken things to a new level by shutting down the entire national power grid!
So, next time you hear about a monkey causing trouble, remember: sometimes, it can bring an entire nation to a standstill!