KARACHI, July 1: People throughout the city remained disturbed, passing a sleepless night due to power failures in their respective localities. People also complained about Karachi Electric Supply Corporation's complaint centre No 118, particularly the uncalled-for attitude of the operators.

A resident of Gulshan-i-Iqbal's, Block 13-D said intermittent power failures for spans of one to two hours during the day and night had become a routine.But power loadshedding was not only being carried out in Block 13-D.

An irate consumer of Korangi Crossing said power breakdowns for half-an-hour intervals continued unabated throughout the day. Another consumer, living in Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Block-12, said he could not sleep the whole night as power continued to play hide and seek.

Whenever attempts were made to lodge a complaint at 118, it was found busy. Seldom an operator picked up the phone, but when he did, his behaviour was very rude, he complained.

An angry resident of Nazimabad No 5 said his family could not sleep during the night between Wednesday and Thursday due to power breakdowns. He said that power was frequently switched on and off during day. "We have to put off all electrical appliances as a precautionary measure, otherwise, they can become faulty."

He said the KESC's complaint No 118 remained busy. "After several attempts, the operator picked up the phone, but he did not give any complaint number nor did he inform me about the possible time of power restoration."

A resident of Phase IV, in Defence Housing Authority said that power failures occurred regularly in the small hours on Thursday. Another resident in Seaview said power was switched off at around 9am and restored at around 2pm.

Complaints about frequent power failures were also received from areas of Orangi, New Karachi, Korangi, Lyari, Liaquatabad, North Karachi towns and other areas, where people criticized the KESC for resorting to loadshedding for long spells at intervals.