KARACHI, June 6: The Karachi Electric Supply Corporation facing 370MW shortfall carried out load-shedding in four cycles at least as the mercury hit 35.5 degree Celsius on Wednesday.

Tension prevailed in Liaquatabad, Gulbahar, Lyari, Baldia, North Karachi and other localities where people took to the streets against the KESC’s failure to improve the generation and transmission system.

KESC consumers said the government failed to address their grievances as they braved hours-long breakdowns every day and no corrective measure was taken despite street protests.

Students appearing in the intermediate and matric exams were the worst sufferers. The frequent power failures had also cast an adverse effect on retail business.

As people endured the vicious cycle of load-shedding, electricity consumption at 7pm was 2,250MW as against 1,985MW available energy. A KESC spokesman said the generation capacity would increase when Unit No 4 of Bin Qasim power station would be operational.

Despite hours-long power outages everyday, the utility was sending inflated bills to its consumers, people complained.

A resident of Federal B Area Block-14 criticised the power utility and disputed its claim about load-shedding.

Meanwhile, Leader of the opposition in the Senate Mian Raza Rabbani criticised ongoing load-shedding and held the government responsible for the power crisis.