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LANDI KOTAL, Jan 24: The people of Jamroud blocked the Peshawar-Torkham highway on Monday for about five hours and burnt tyres on the road in protest against power breakdowns.
They were chanting slogans against the Wapda authorities for prolonged load shedding. They complained about experiencing 15-18-hour load shedding even during Eid days. Chilly weather and frequent power outages marred the Eidul Azha festivities in Landi Kotal and its adjoining areas.
Light rains with moderate snowfall on the surrounding hills started on the first day of the Eid and continued the next day, bringing down the mercury to below zero on the Celsius scale at night.
Inflated prices of food items and non-availability of cylinders of compressed natural gas added to the vows of the locals. Fire wood dealers also increased their prices. But Wapda officials paid no heed to the problems of the people, the protesters said. The Tribal Electric Supply Company (Tesco) authorities have long been saying that the recurring power failure in tribal areas results from overloading due to illegal connections.
OFFICES CLOSED: Offices of the assistant political agent Landi Kotal and political tehsildar remained closed on Monday despite the end of Eid holidays.
The clerical staff of the tehsildar offices was watching movies on cable network in their "side room" when this reporter went to get forms of his children attested for computerised national identity card. The assistant political agent and political tehsildar were absent. People also complained about the closure of their offices.
