SUKKUR, March 27: The 12-14-hour long power breakdown whether during daytime or at night is a torture for people of Sukkur and surrounding places. Reportedly, there are quite a big number of losses to electrical appliances. Blood banks are worst hit as quality of donated blood is being affected because of frequent and prolonged power outage.

The rural areas of Salehpat, Rohri, Sangrar, Pano Akil too come into its orbit, while Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco) link it to load management due to supply shortage from the main grid system.

Experts fear low agriculture production if tube-wells are not operated on time as it was a season of crops.

In hospitals major and minor surgeries are postponed due to power-breakdowns, leaving patients in miserable condition.

Supply of water too, is hampered keeping localities in drought-like situation as pumping stations remain inoperative.

Similarly, examinations are round the corner but students find it difficult to catch up with their studies without light.

The business too is under pressure as shoppers visit markets in the evening but prolong and unscheduled load-shedding by Hesco authorities make it impossible for them to buy stuff.

Power outage at night has increased crime rate as on Tuesday only, a gang of 12 dacoits looted over one million rupees from four shops in Shaheed Ganj, while injuring three employees.

The 12-hour long daily power shutdown announced by Hesco from March 26 to April 1 has received the ire of people, traders, educational institutes, hospitals, Madaris and Masajids of Sukkur City and nearby areas. They termed it a cover to hide line losses and make-up for millions of units in the eight-day period. Hesco, they allege, resorted to daily eight-hour long power shutdown during winter in the name of maintenance just to cover up theft losses.

Sukkur Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Sukkur Small Traders have strongly protested raise in detection bills. They met high officials of Hesco Sukkur and demanded its withdrawal. They alleged the utility of adopting a novel way to punish consumers for denying payment of heavy detection billing amount. They alleged Hesco officials will fill their pockets in the name of maintenance expenditure.