KARACHI, Aug 8: As the power supply continued to play hide-and-seek with the consumers, a large number of angry people attacked one of the KESC’s main offices on Abdullah Haroon Road in Saddar on Tuesday afternoon.

The protesters pelted the offices with stones that shattered window panes and the power utility staff closed the building to save themselves from public wrath. Many pedestrians on the nearby footpath ran for their lives.

The vehicular traffic on the road, one of the major arteries of Saddar, also remained suspended chocking the already overcrowded streets of the main business centre of the city.

Shopkeepers and residents of various localities in Saddar approached the KESC staff on Tuesday morning and complained about electricity breakdowns. The casual response and assurances made by the staff present at the KESC offices that efforts were being made to restore the power utility could not satisfy the angry complainants.

After exchange of words, the frustrated consumers started raising slogans against the KESC management shouting that the power utility had miserably failed to provide uninterrupted power supply. To save themselves from public wrath, the staff closed the building.

However, the protesters gave vent to their anger and started pelting the KESC office with stones. The protesters said that the power utility had never accepted its failure and always put blame on weather. “When it was hot, the reason provided for loadshedding was the increase in demand and now they blame rains for the power interruptions,” a complainant remarked.

Responding to the Dawn queries, the KESC spokesperson said that Karachi was facing a shortage of around 100MWs. The demand was around 2,000MWs against the supply of 1,900MWs and the 100MW shortage was being met by carrying out an-hour-long loadshedding on rotational basis in the evening.

Besides, he said that owing to some operational problems at the gas company, the gas supply to the KESC had been decreased by 70 per cent which had affected the operation of KESC’s gas turbines. One unit of the Bin Qasim power station was also shut down for maintenance, he pointed out.

Meanwhile, scores of people from different areas of the city called Dawn offices complaining against the KESC for power failures and loadshedding.

Shahzad Ghazipuri from Karsaz Road, KDA Scheme-1, said that power supply to his area remained suspended from 2pm to 5pm on Tuesday.

Ahmed Ali from Journalist Society, Block-4/A, Gulshan-i-Iqbal said that his locality was experiencing power failures three to four times a day for around half an hour each. However, the shutdown at 11am on Tuesday lasted till 1.30pm.

A resident of Lyari, Muzaffar Baloch, said that his vicinity and other neighbouring areas – Baghdadi, Kalri, Shahbeg Lane -- where his relatives lived faced four to five shutdowns a day of around 30 minutes each. The power supply remained suspended to their area from 3pm to 4.30pm.

Anisa Khatoon, calling from Gulistan-i-Jauhar Block-16/A, said that power went off around 11am and it was restored at 8pm on Monday. On Tuesday, there was no light four hours, she said.

A resident of Sarwar Shaheed Road, Chaudhry Tahir, said that power supply to his area remained suspended from 3.30pm to 4.30pm, while it also remained disrupted three to four times for around 10 minutes each in the morning.

Calling from Korangi Crossing, Ambareen Banu criticized the KESC for its failure to provide smooth supply of electricity. She said that there was no electricity in her vicinity for nine hours on Saturday night and six hours on Sunday night. She complained that electricity supply remained suspended from again from 3pm to 4pm on Tuesday.

Nasir Javed, calling from Gulistan-i-Jauhar Block-20, said that the power supply remained suspended from 7pm to 12 midnight on Monday night, then from 10 am to 11am and again from 2pm to 5pm.

Mohammad Naushad of Block-16, Gulshan-i-Iqbal said that the power that went off around 3am was restored in the morning. He said that there was an hour-long shutdown on Tuesday afternoon. Calling from Khokhrapar, Mazhar Ali said that power supply to his area had been suspended from 12 midnight to 1.30am on Tuesday.

A resident of Tauheed Commercial Area, Anis Ahmad said that his area was without power from 2pm to 4pm.

Calling from PECHS Block-6, Atiya Hassan said that her area was without power supply from 3pm to 4.30pm.

Shehla Fateh called from Jamshed Town that her area had been without power supply from 6am to 8pm. Calling from Dastagir, Bloch 14, F. B. Area, Mohammad Areeb said that the power supply to his area remained suspended from 10pm to 12 midnight on Monday. Mohammad Zahid of Korangi, “T” Area said that his area was without power from Monday night to Tuesday morning.