KARACHI, March 9: The Karachi Electric Supply Corporation on Tuesday claimed that it had normalized power supply to those areas which had suffered an electricity breakdown on Monday. However, many residents called Dawn to say that their localities experienced prolonged power breakdowns on Tuesday.

A press release issued by the KESC says: "Although power supply to the affected areas was resumed on a priority basis, due to overloading the consumers in the service areas of Jacob Lines and Garden East may experience some interruptions during the day."

Calling from Soldier Bazaar, at least three residents told Dawn that their locality had experienced two spells of prolonged power breakdowns. "One can understand that there is some emergency and the KESC is trying to restore power to our locality. But what one cannot understand is the rude manner in which KESC staff speak to those who call in to lodge their complaints," they said. A spokesman for the KESC told Dawn that the power utility had asked the Frontier Works Organization to coordinate with the KESC staff while carrying out construction works on roads.

He pointed out that the repair work would cost the KESC Rs2.5 million. He said that at least 35 feeders which received electricity from the two feeders had become dead.

He urged the commercial consumers of Saddar, Frere Road and Garden to avoid excessive use of electricity during the daytime till Saturday when the main line would be repaired. He added that excessive use of electricity would overload the local network and cause trippings.

He recalled that repair work on the 132KV extra high tension underground cable, which had started on Monday evening, was continuing at the site of damage and would be completed by Saturday when the Jacob Lines and Garden East grids would be connected with the main supply line.