KARACHI: Electricity continues to play hide-and-seek
By Bhagwandas
KARACHI, Sept 25 Electricity supply in the city continued to play hide-and-seek on Monday testing the nerves of Karachiites on the first day of the holy month of Ramazan.
Long spells of breakdowns and unannounced load-shedding perturbed people throughout the day, and many of them complained about non-availability of power either on Sehri or on Iftar timing.
The people, who had not yet fully recovered from the day-long miseries on Sunday said they had faced the countrywide power breakdown, and were not provided any relief on Monday despite assurances by the higher authorities.
According to them, KESC service centres either did not respond to the telephone calls or the phone lines remained busy continuously.
A large number of electricity victims after failing to get any response from the KESC service centres called up newspaper offices to record their sufferings.
Many of the callers said owing to long breakdowns, they had purchased the UPSs but owing to low voltage batteries could not be charged, so they were left without electricity as UPS equipment did not function.
They were also critical of the tall claims made by the government functionaries that there would be no loadshedding during Ramazan, but it had started on the very first day of the holy month.
Many callers said after the restoration of power supply last night, voltage continued to fluctuate, causing damage to the household electrical appliances.
Many callers said if there was any shortage of electricity, the KESC should announce the loadshedding schedule so that people could plan accordingly. Unannounced loadshedding sessions expose them to uncertainty.
People residing in Old Area, especially on Nishtar Road, Sumaya Mukaram Palace, Bohra Gali, Soomra Gali, Ranchore Line Jamaat Khana and the nearby vicinity said they had been suffering owing to voltage fluctuations and power failures which are resorted off and on.
At least 30 breakdowns had occurred on Monday, said Mehboob Ansari, a resident of Old Haji Camp, adding he went to the area complaint centre to lodge a complaint as his efforts on phone could not bear fruit. The complaint centre staff was avoiding receiving phones. Although the complaint centre staff gave him complaint No 7, his grievance could not be redressed by Monday night.
Calling from Block 13-D, Gulshan-i-Iqbal Nadeem Jaffer said power supply to his area remained disrupted between 3pm and 9pm. A resident of Journalist Society, Block 4-A of Gulshan-i-Iqbal Esha Khan, said electricity supply to her locality remained suspended between 6am and 8am and then again between 1pm and 5pm.
A resident of Block 16 -A, Gulistan-i-Jauher Syed Shaheryar said that power supply to his area remained disrupted thrice (from 3am to 6am, 4pm to 5pm and then again from 7pm to 10pm). Calling from Block 14, Gulshan-i-iIqbal, Ahsan Ali said his area was without power supply from 2am to 4am, then from 5am to 7am, again from 11am to 1pm.
Jawed Siddiqui calling from Dastagir Society, Block 15, F. B. area said his area was without power supply from 4am to 5.30am and then again from noon to 3pm. Mohammad Abbas calling from Block 1 of Federal B. Area said his area was without power supply from 4am to 5.30am and then again from noon to 3pm.
A resident of Metroville III in Orangi Town, Rehman Gul said his area was without power supply from 6am to 7am and then again from 10am to noon. Jameel Baloch, calling from Lyari, said his area was without power supply from 10am to 4pm.
Calling from DHA Tauhed Commercial Area Anees Ahmad said his area was without power supply from 6am to 9am and then from 1pm to 3pm. Last night, the supply remained suspended between 11am and 1pm, he added.
A resident of North Karachi, Sector 7 D -2 Shahid Iqbal said his area was without power supply from noon to 2pm. Younus Baloch of Baghdadi said his area was without power from 11am to 1.30pm.
Hussain Raza calling from Gulberg, Federal B Area, said his area was without power supply from 11am to 2pm.
Calling from Block 5, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Ms Tabassum said her area was without power supply from 5pm to 10pm, while through out the day the electricity supply played hide and seek.
A KESC spokesperson, referring to Dawn queries, said the major breakdown that had hit the country, including Karachi, on Sunday had been fixed at 1am on Monday and since then no loadshedding was being carried out as the demand which stood between 1900 and 2000 MWs was available, so there was no reason for any loadshedding. KESC officials responding to other questions about power breakdowns said these could be due to localized faults which could develop anywhere any time.
