MANSEHRA: The residents of Darband and its adjoining areas on Monday blocked Oghi-Mansehra Road to traffic in protest against prolonged power outages and low voltage.

“We will not end our protest until our demands are met. The prolonged and unscheduled power outages must end and the issue of low voltage, which has rendered our electrical appliances virtually useless, must be resolved,” Anwar Khan told demonstrators gathered outside the grid station in Oghi.

The protesters travelled to Oghi in a convoy of vehicles from Darband and nearby localities. The road blockade caused long queues of vehicles on both sides of Oghi-Mansehra Road, leaving passengers stranded since morning.

They raised slogans in support of their demands and criticised the federal government.

They alleged that despite the sacrifices made by the people displaced by the construction of Tarbela Dam, their longstanding electricity issues had remained unresolved.

“Our ancestors’ graveyards were submerged by the Tarbela Dam reservoir and our families were forced to migrate and settle in Darband and other parts of Hazara.

Despite these sacrifices, we continue to suffer due to prolonged power outages and low voltage of electricity,” Mr Khan said.

He said that the issue had repeatedly been taken up with senior officials of Hazara Electric Supply Company and local lawmakers, but no practical steps had been taken to resolve it.

“The elderly, women and children are the worst affected by prolonged outages and low voltage. The ongoing heat wave has further aggravated their hardships, exposing them to heat-related illnesses,” he said.

Mr Khan said that the families displaced by the construction of Tarbela Dam had expected better civic amenities after their resettlement in Darband and adjoining areas.

“Despite our sacrifices, the government has failed to ensure even our basic right to an uninterrupted electricity supply. Power remains suspended for most of the day and night,” he alleged.

The executive engineer of Wapda held talks with protesters, which failed to end the blockade of central artery as protesters proclaimed to continue their agitation until their demands were met.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2026