LANDI KOTAL (Khyber Agency), June 22: Angry consumers blocked the Peshawar-Torkhum highway in Jamrud on Wednesday for almost one hour to protest against prolonged power shutdown in the area.

The protesters burnt tyres and placed rocks on the road, forcing motorists to divert to an alternate route which was also blocked for a brief time as some children placed stones and logs on the kutcha road running through a dry stream in the Gudar area.

The highway was cleared after the intervention of the local administration and elders.

The Water and Power Development Authority has been subjecting Jamrud and Landi Kotal tehsils in Khyber Agency to prolonged loadshedding and power supply with low voltage.

Power supply to both the tehsils was suspended early on Tuesday morning and restored at late afternoon. The area residents spent a sleepless night as power supply remained on and off on the ensuing night.

The residents also complained about low voltage of electricity which, they said, had damaged their electric appliances, including air conditioners and refrigerators.