KARACHI, June 25: The Karachi Electric Supply Corporation failed to restore power supply to various localities despite a lapse of two days since the gale-force winds and heavy rains lashed the city on Saturday.

Residents of various localities, including parts of Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Federal B Area, North Karachi, New Karachi, North Nazimabad, Nazimabad, Orangi Town, Malir, Landhi, Korangi, Defence, Clifton, Lyari, Keamari, Gadap, Saddar and Burns Road, complained that their areas remained without power for more than 50 hours.

Angry consumers lit bonfires and blocked roads in Korangi in protest against the prolonged power breakdown. They demanded an immediate restoration of power supply to their localities, which had been without power since Saturday afternoon. Protest demonstrations against the power utility were also staged on M.A. Jinnah Road.

The faults in various areas could not be rectified as the KESC staff feared mob attacks. People said that they had lodged several complaints to the numbers mentioned on their electricity bills but no one turned up to rectify faults.

Some junior engineers, who had been hired on a contract basis with the assurance that they would be regularised after the KESC’s privatisation, said they were demoralised in the present circumstances. They claimed that they were not allowed to use their judgment on ground until instructions came from the KESC Director (Operations) Adnan Bashir Khan or Chief Operating Officer Safdar Ibrahim.