SUKKUR, April 29: Various areas, including Ghotki, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, Jacobabad and some parts of Balochistan, are facing a serious electricity crisis in the wake of a breakdown at the Guddu thermal power station two days ago.

According to sources, a major fault developed in the G-9 combined cycle unit of the power station on April 27. During its repair, a fire broke out which caused injuries to four workers. As a result of fire, two more machines, which produced 200mw each, also broke down, which forced the power station authorities to close all three machines which collectively produced 1,000mw.

The situation caused shortage of electricity which forced the authorities to resort to loadshedding in Balochistan, Punjab and some parts of Sindh.

The authorities said the station staff was busy in restoring power supply, but it was not possible to give a timeframe in this regard.

Meanwhile, electrician Maqbool Ahmed, who had received 70 per cent burns in the fire incident, died at Guddu hospital on Friday morning, while another seriously injured foreman Ali Akhtar had been shifted to Islamabad for treatment.

Wapda employees have criticized the negligence of officials of the Guddu power station, saying that doctors had advised shifting of Maqbool Ahmed to Islamabad or Karachi, but authorities refused to shift him which caused his death.