KOHAT, Dec 28: Power breakdowns of longer duration coupled with continuous noise of landing and taking off of planes at the airport have badly affected the life of those living in the vicinity of Kohat airport.

The Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) stopped power supply to Kohat city from 8am to 2pm on Wednesday last, taking the plea that it was due to repair work on the high-tension line.

However, the company failed to answer that why the public was not informed in advance about the power suspension.

Pesco again stopped power supply to the entire city for two hours on Thursday evening, while on Friday electric supply was disconnected after a high-tension line fell near Darra Adam Khel causing fire.

The grid station staff concerned, when contacted, said the problem occurred due to additional load on the urban line. The main supply line was damaged when some miscreants resorted to firing into the air in the tribal area, they added. The power supply was restored after four hours.

Similarly, a large population living near the airport complained they were having sleepless nights for the last 15 days as noisy helicopters and huge C-130s started landing and taking off during night hours.

The helicopters using the airport facility to patrol the hilly areas along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in the nearby tribal areas started flying before dawn, waking up the residents. The C-130s, carrying high military officials and FBI team members to and from Kohat, where 130 Al-Qaeda members have been lodged, also started their operations in night hours which continued till late in the morning.

On Thursday, a Hercules plane landed and took off between 9pm and 2am. The air traffic controller, Flight-Lt Imran, told Dawn that people made inquiries about the activities taking place at the airport. Some even asked if India had launched attack, he added.

The giant aircraft also continued its operations on Sunday and Monday last, when senior officials of the Special Services Group and Inter-Services Intelligence arrived here to finalize arrangements for their stay and visit of the Kohat jail to interrogate the Al-Qaeda members.