SUKKUR, June 18 Hundreds of people demonstrated on Station Road on Friday to protest against undeclared electricity loadshedding, frequent power breakdowns and tripping of feeders.

A large number of people from New Pind, Waritar road, Gharib Abad, Racecourse road, Takkar Muhalla and Ayub Gate areas, with wooden sticks and pieces of rocks in their hands, gathered on the road and shouted slogans against Hesco, which according to them, had turned their lives into a living hell.

They burnt tyres, pelted vehicles with stones and blocked the road, due to which traffic between Sukkur and Rohri remained suspended for about two hours.Talking to journalists, Mohammad Akram, Khan Mohammad and Yousuf Ali said that they were hardly supplied electricity for eight out of 24 hours.

Besides, Hesco sends them inflated bills, which they termed a joke with the people.

They said Hesco officials suspend power supply in the name of maintenance for hours altogether, but despite this, frequent breakdowns and tripping of feeders take place almost daily.

The life becomes hell when feeders are tripped during middle of the night, they added.

According to Pepco authorities, only three-hours of loadshedding in 24 hours was allowed in urban areas, but in Sukkur, loadshedding was being carried out without any proper schedule.

They demanded of the authorities to take notice and warned to launch a protest movement if no practical steps were taken to check unscheduled loadshedding.

In the meantime, a heavy contingent of police reached on the spot and negotiated with the protesters and assured them of taking up the matter with the Hesco officers. The protesters dispersed peacefully.

Our Dadu correspondent adds Relatives of a minor boy, who died after touching an electric pole, demonstrated at railway crossing on Friday and chanted slogans against local Hesco officials. Azhar Hussain Babbur, a class one student, had died when came in contact with the pole installed at his house.

Carrying the body, a large number of residents of Shahano Shahabad Mohalla blocked both rail and road transport for two hours.

Haji Mehmood Babbur, father of the boy, said that Hesco officials had installed an 11kv electric pole within his house which was not removed despite repeated requests.

He accused Hesco officials of being responsible for death of his son.

Police arrived at the spot and assured the protesters that they would contact Hesco officials and get the pole removed. On the assurance, they dispersed peacefully.

SE Hesco Dadu circle, Ghulam Hussain Samoon, said that an inquiry would be launched if the pole was found installed within the house of Mr Babbur.