KARACHI, June 20: Citizens have been advised to take extra-precaution to protect themselves and their families from fatal electrical accidents and electrocution especially during rains.

According to KESC spokesman, the power utility has finalised rain emergency programme which will come into operation on start of rains.

Under this plan, KESC staff will be mobilised by the management to restore power breakdowns in minimum possible time. However, public is informed that work on overhead power lines and PMTs can only be carried out after the rain stops, because working on the electrical system during rains can be fatal for the workmen.

The general public has also been requested to remain calm and be assured that the KESC will make every possible effort to restore supply after the rains. However, there may be complaints which may take longer time to be rectified.

Meanwhile, the KESC spokesman announced safety measures to be adopted during rains.i. Immediately inform your nearest KESC centre or 118 about a broken wire on phone or if the phone is busy lodge the complaint at the centre-window for the purpose. The broken wire may be live and may cause fatal accident if the complaint centre is not timely informed.

ii. Do not go near or touch a broken wire.

iii. Do not use illegal connections during rains.

iv. Keep away from electricity installations like poles, PMTs and sub-stations.

v. Local generator users should install them separate from KESC-line. Some generator users hook their generators on the KESC neutral-wire, which becomes dangerous for the KESC staff working on the line in case of power failure.

vi Keep away from the water accumulated during rains around electrical poles or other installations.

vii. Local switches on the poles for streetlights should not be touched during rains. viii. In case one phase is off do not jump over to the other phase.

ix. Don’t tie anything with an electrical pole. Some people are habitual of tying their pets, cycles and motorcycles with electrical poles, which can be equally dangerous during the rains.

x. TV cable operators are also warned not to climb a pole during the rains.

KESC spokesman further said that past history suggested that higher rate of fatal accidents during rains had happened in the areas infested with illegal connections and amongst the illegal connection users. Hence, it was important that people for their own safety should remove these illegal connections before the rain starts.

He said that the KESC had also undertaken tree pruning in areas where it was disturbing the overhead power supply lines. —PPI