MANSEHRA, Jan 15: Shortage of drinking water worsened here on Sunday after thieves stole a second power transformer of water supply scheme installed at Ichar Nullah.

Many city areas are without drinking water for the last three weeks after power transformer of Bothkhata water supply scheme was stolen.

Police and the department concerned have failed to recover the transformer or make any alternative arrangement.

The tehsil municipal administration has been providing drinking water to Mansehra city and its adjoining areas from the two schemes Bothkhata water supply scheme launched in 1964 and Ichar Nullah scheme started in 1990.

However, since then no new scheme could be launched during past two decades and the recent theft incidents had left over half of the city population without water.

When contacted, in-charge of water supply department Mohammad Shafique said that the issue of transformers stealing had been taken upwith the police, but they failed to recover any.

Sources said that unidentified thieves had deprived the Mansehra TMA of seven power transformers during the last one year. The residents also criticised the police, saying that their inaction proved that they were hand in glove with the outlaws.

Three DIE ON ROAD: Three people were killed and eight others injured when a passenger pickup plunged into a ravine in Allai, Battagram, on Sunday.

The pickup was on its way to Rashang from Allai when the driver lost its control at a sharp turn and it skidded off the road. As a result, Ali Akbar and Fazal Naveer died on the spot while Taj Naveer succumbed to his injuries on way to hospital.

Other injured identified as Azizullah, Jahanzab, Rehman Wali, Shabir, Abdul Sattar, Waseeur Rehman, Tahseenullah and driver Anwarur Rehman were taken to Allai hospital. Three of the injured, stated to be in critical condition, were referred to Ayub Medical Complex, Abbottabad.