KARACHI, Jan 31: The fragile transmission and distribution system of the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation collapsed in many areas in the early hours of Friday when the city received an average of six millimetres of rain.

KESC sources told Dawn that the localities hit by rain-related power breakdowns had been in former Karachi East and Karachi Central.

The Met office said that its rain-measuring devices at Faisal Base had received 4.4 millimetres of rain, Masroor Base 4mm, North Karachi 8.4mm, Karachi West 8mm, Malir 5mm, Airport 6.4mm and Karachi Central 4 millimetres.

Callers from many areas of the city told Dawn that they had lost power supply as soon as the rain started. They were particularly angry about the fact that their complaint centres offered almost no information about the duration of power breakdowns. They added that centralized complaint centre, better known by its telephone number as 118, had been engaged most of the time.

The composite complaint centres of the KESC told irate consumers that the power utility had switched off supply to most of the areas as a preventive measure because of rains.

Officials at various complaint centres said they honestly told the consumers that they were under orders not to rectify complaints during the rain.

Calling from North Karachi, Sector 11-A, a resident said his locality was singled out by the KESC for power shutdowns. “Our locality had rain on Thursday night for a little while, but the power breakdown which coincided with the first drop of rain continued well into the night.

Similarly, today our locality suffered a prolonged power shutdown. Other sectors of North Karachi, however, do not suffer such long power breakdowns,” he said.

Askari Hussain called Dawn from North Nazimabad, Block L, and said that he had been told by his regional complaint centre that the KESC would not rectify any fault until the rain was over. He added that his locality had been hit by a power breakdown on Friday when the sun had shone bright.

Ashraf Khan called from Defence, Phase 2 Extension, commercial area, and said that the army in the KESC had ruined the power utility. “We are all looking forward to watching World Cup cricket matches soon. But if the KESC transmission and distribution system cannot work well in this pleasant weather, I am sure it will play up during the World Cup matches as well,” he noted.

Khurram Baloch called from Gulshan-i-Iqbal and said that he, being a student, was greatly disturbed by prolonged power shutdowns.

A resident of Nazimabad, Block 2, said there had been no electricity in his locality since the afternoon.

A student calling from North Karachi said that it was difficult for him to figure out why the KESC had done nothing in all these winter months about its ill-maintained transmission and distribution system. “During summer the KESC says it cannot repair the system because it is being used a lot. Why does it not repair it when things are not so hectic during winter?” he wondered.

The light to heavy rain in all parts of the city early Friday morning uprooted many trees and signboards along roadsides, adds APP. The Met office has forecast a partly cloudy weather with a hazy morning on Saturday. The minimum temperature would remain in the range of 14 and 16 degrees.