Power supply was almost back to normal across Bangladesh Saturday after a prolonged blackout from all the power stations tripping under the impact of a severe cyclone last week, private news agency UNB reported.

"Though some problems are still there in power distribution, we have been able to restore 98 percent of the total power generation and transmission across the country," Chairman of Power Development Board (PDB) Shawkat Ali told reporters Saturday afternoon.

However, the country's southern Barguna, Pirojpur, Bagerhat districts, which were hit hardest by the cyclone Sidr, are still under darkness. The chairman said it would take two to three more days to restore power supply in the worst affected areas.

The power supply suffered unusual disruptions from Thursday evening when the cyclone started pounding on the country's southern and southwestern coastal areas, consequently tripping thelocal electricity grids of the districts due to torn electricity wires and damages to substations.

The death toll of Sidr was at least 3447 people as of Nov. 19, and that number may rise.

The PDB chairman said the total power generation till 4 p.m. Saturday increased to 1900 MW while the total demand of power across the country in the evening peak hours was counted at 2900 MW and it was expected that 2700 MW of power will be generated during the peak hours.

Shawkat said despite restoration of power generation in most of the power plants, electricity supply is being hampered as the power lines and poles have been severely damaged. "It may take three to four days to repair the damaged lines and poles."