SUKKUR, May 12: Despite claims of the Federal Minister for Water and Power, Liaquat Ali Khan Jatoi, that no load-shedding is being carried anywhere in the country, Sukkur and its adjoining areas, including Rohri and Khairpur, are facing the worst kind of load-shedding almost on a daily basis.

Besides, the duration of load-shedding is increasing everyday with the temperature shooting up to 48 degrees Celsius.

The Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco) has resorted to unannounced load-shedding, coupled with frequent power disruptions and shutdowns, with the advent of summer.

A number of Hesco consumers contacted by Dawn complained of low voltage and power fluctuation which damaged their electrical appliances including refrigerators, air-conditioners and computers.

Hesco, they added, has failed to correct this scenario failed to do anything to improve the situation.

The worst-affected areas within in Sukkur include Frere Road, Shahi Bazaar, Sarrafa Bazaar, Shaheed Ganj, Queens Road, Minara Road, Clock Tower, Gharib Abad, Barrage Road, Bunder Road, Lab-i-Mehran Road and others.

The unannounced load-shedding has badly affected lives of the elderly people and the school-going children.

Many children fell unconscious due to hours-long power outages.

Repeated efforts to contact Hesco officials remain futile who keep their cell phones switched-off and line phones engaged or busy to avoid any complaints from the consumers in the wake of power failure or load-shedding.

On the other hand, some Hesco officials were quoted as saying that low voltage problem was not their responsibility.

“We are receiving low voltage from Guddu Thermal Power Station”, one of the Hesco officials was quoted as saying. The people of Sukkur, especially the trading community, have demanded of the federal minister for water and power, Chairman Wapda and other high ups to intervene and rectify the power supply system which, they felt, had almost collapsed in Sukkur, Rohri and Khairpur.

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