HYDERABAD, Feb 16: Residents in different localities of the city faced hardships on Monday due to a massive power breakdown that also affected the water supply.

The Gari Khata sub-division and Qasimabad were the worst affected areas. Meanwhile, the managing director of the Water and Sanitation Agency notified that due to the power breakdown from 1.00am to 7.30am and 9am to 3pm at the new filter plant on the Jamshoro Road, the production of water remained suspended for 12.5 hours.

He said water supply was reduced by 50 per cent to all areas of Latifabad, Qasimabad and the City talukas. He said Hesco authorities had also cut the power supply to the Thandi Sarak pumping station, Hala Naka pumping station and the MGD Jamshoro Road pumping station from 9am to 3pm which further aggravated the water supply situation.

The Wasa official complained that Hesco authorities had disconnected the power supply to the Effendi sewage pumping station and the Fort Hill water supply pumping station due to which sewage was overflowing on roads and streets in areas of Effendi Town, Pakistan Chowk, Cloth Market, Gul Shah Road and Islamabad.

This had also created water shortage in command areas of the Fort Hill pumping station, including Resham Gali, Shahi Bazaar, Khai Road, Gari Khata, Risala Road, American Quarters, Hali Road and Gulshan-i-Hali, he further said.e said normal water supply would be restored in two to three days, provided there was no electricity breakdown.

GANG BUSTED: The police have busted a three-member inter-provincial gang of motorcycle lifters which is believed to have stolen motorcycles in Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Nawabshah and other areas.

DPO A.D.Khawaja told journalists here on Monday that a police team first arrested Israr Abbasi and recovered five motorbikes from his possession.

On the information provided by Abbasi, gang leader Haresh Kumar alias Raju was nabbed, leading to recovery of nine more motorcycles.

Their accomplice Ramzan Khaskheli was arrested in Sanghar and four other motorcycles were recovered from his possession. Fake documents as well as parts and keys of motorcycles were also recovered from their possession.

The DPO said that the gang used to steal motorcycles and after changing their parts and tampering with the numbers, smuggled them to Balochistan and Peshawar.