SWABI: A teenage Afghan refugee died of heatstroke at Gandaf camp in Topi tehsil here on Thursday.

The deceased was identified a 13-year-old Ziaur Rehman. The Afghan refugees, living in the camp, told this scribe that Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) had disconnected supply of electricity to them in September 2015. They said that the solar panels installed by them were badly damaged during the recent storm.

They said that the hot weather and non-availability of electricity claimed the life of the teenager. They said that they confronted numerous problems owing to non-availability of electricity. They said that the solar panels installed by 585 families were broken during the recent storm as they had made temporary arrangements for them.

They said that 22,000 Afghan refugees lived in Gandaf camp and all of them were without the electricity.

The Pesco officials, when contacted, said that the power supply to camp was disconnected because there were outstanding dues amounting to millions of rupees against the refugees.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2023