May 9, 2006	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 10, 1427

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PESHAWAR, May 8: A severe duststorm hit Peshawar and other parts of the NWFP on Monday, disrupting power supply in various parts of the provincial capital. The meteorological office said the storm was caused by low pressure in various parts of the province and adjacent tribal areas. The storm, however, did not cause any causality anywhere in the province.

Officials of the Peshawar Electric Supply Company said that powerful winds damaged a number of feeders in the city. They said that electricity had been restored in most of the affected areas.

The met office forecast light rain during the night. Patches of clouds were seen in the sky in the afternoon.

Abdul Sami Paracha adds from Kohat: A major power breakdown hit many parts of Kohat district following the storm which was accompanied by a drizzle on Monday afternoon.

Electricity supply to city-1 and remote areas could not be restored till the filing of this report.

Meanwhile, Pesco officials have gradually increased the duration of loadshedding in the district over the past 15 days.

Schools in the city were closed after 10 am on Saturday as power supply remained cut off from 6am to 1.30am.

Pesco has been carrying out five to six hours of loadshedding mainly in the evening and morning in the city regularly. The situation in the villages was reported to be worse.