KOHAT: The consumers have been experiencing frequent power suspensions and low voltage since two huge fires struck the main grid station in Kohat about two weeks ago as repair and rehabilitation work continues on the grid.

The power outages have resulted in acute water shortage in different localities.

According to officials, it would take weeks before the complete repair of feeders was done.

The medical store owners complained that millions of rupees worth insulin and other medicines had got expired as they required to be refrigerated. An official said they could feel the pain of consumers but were unable to do anything.

The Pesco had announced that electricity supply to major parts of the district would remain suspended till Tuesday (July 21) due to repair work at the grid from 7am to 3pm. The affected feeders are City-II, City-III, Kohat Textile Mills area, Cadet College Kohat, Baragh and Small Industries.

It said during the fire at the grid the feeders of City-II and Kohat Textile Mills were completely burnt down which would be repaired by Tuesday.

The people complained that after rain on Monday power supply was suspended at about 3.50pm and was restored at 6pm. They said it was in addition to the five hours scheduled loadshedding.

DRUG DEALERS ARRESTED: The Darra Adamkhel tribal subdivision police arrested two drug dealers during an operation on the Indus Highway on Tuesday.

In a statement, Kohat district police officer Javed Iqbal said he had issued strict directives to the police to arrest the peddlers, suppliers and smugglers of drugs in the tribal subdivision.

He said he had been receiving reports that two tribesmen were supplying drugs to addicts and peddlers from Kohat and Peshawar. So, on an intelligence-based operation, Darra SHO Amjid Hussain arrested Abdul Saleem of Azadi Mela Akhorwal and Shoeb Khan belonging to Khyber district from the Indus Highway, he added.

The statement said the arrested men supplied drugs in bulk and small quantities to addicts.

The police seized ice, hashish and 240 cartridges of different bores from them.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2020