LARKANA, Aug 4: Life came to a standstill here on Thursday in protest against prolonged power outages and burning of 22 transformers, excessive billing and unscheduled load shedding.

On the call of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) trade activities also remained suspended amid police patrolling. Petrol pumps and main trade centres remained closed and public transport did not ply on roads from the main bus terminal.

The strike was successful because the call drew silent support of traders and citizens, who were facing the wrath of power failure while delay in repairing the damaged transformers, ignited anger among people.

The JSQM in a pamphlet distributed a day before the strike alleged that 19 transformers had been fitted in the houses of politicians. Ten trolley transformers, which previously were used as alternate to continue the power supply in case of any transformer damage, have allegedly been shifted to Sukkur.

Led by Athar Soomro and Muzaffar Sandano, activists of the JSQM took out a procession and assembled at the main gate of Jinnahbagh. They chanted slogans against the government and Wapda.

An executive engineer on the condition of anonymity told this reporter that about 25 transformers had been damaged at different places, suspending power supply to Larkana city.

Residents of different localities said they were braving hot weather without electricity. They criticised Wapda for not rectifying the damaged transformers and restoring power supply.

Residents of Leela Abad in Muhammedpur, where two transformers have been damaged, were still without power for seven days.

Wapda and the concerned quarters remained unmoved over the complaints of residents.

Instead of restoring power supply, the managers of Sukkur Electric Supply Company (Sepco) have removed the links of transformers and disconnected supply from High Tension wires at Jinnahbagh feeder. Parts of the city receiving power supply from the Jinnahbagh and city-II feeders are the worst affected.

Sindh Law Minister Ayaz Soomro, who is also the Larkana district president of the PPP, told this reporter on Thursday said that he had got sanctioned 13 transformers that would reach Larkana on Friday and the damaged transformers would be replaced in a couple of days.

He said the chief executive of Sepco had complained about non-payment of power bills and quoted the examples of Banguldero and Dhamraha.

Khair Muhammed Shaikh, vice-president of the Larkana PPP, said that ruthless campaign against power thefts was the only solution to continue uninterrupted power supply and saving transformers from damages.