SUKKUR, June 13: Hesco has disconnected over 3000 power supply connections of defaulters in Ghotki district.

Hesco Xen said Rs53 million were outstanding against 1702 government departments while Rs38 million against 3990 private consumers.

The official said the electricity supply to more than 200 government and over 3000 private consumers had been cut off due to non-payment of bills.

He said out of Rs38 million outstanding arrears, an amount of Rs13 million was recovered from the private consumers while Rs3 million were recovered from the government departments.

The Xen said the power supply to the town committees of four talukas of the district— Mirpur Mathelo, Daharki, Ubauro, Khan Garh— was also disconnected. The official said electricity of the irrigation offices situated in Ghotki, Mirpur Mathelo and Daharki was also severed.

The electricity connections of public welfare schemes, water supply, drainage pumps, telephone exchange and other essential services were not disconnected.

SNAKE BITE: At least four people were bitten by snakes after the Mahi Wah breach flooded five villages near Daharki.

Those bitten by snakes were identified as Allah Rakhio, Abdul Qadir, Shah Nawaz and Gulsher.

They were admitted to the Daharki hospital in critical condition.

The breach, which developed on Tuesday night, was plugged with the help of villagers after a struggle of 32 hours.

The flood water, which inundated the villages of Raziq Dino, Mohammad Alam Rajri, Allah Yar and Mian Abdul Rauf, was still standing there and the residents were living under the open sky.

The people were facing manifold problems due to five-foot standing water in and around their villages, which might cause water-borne diseases.

The residents demanded the district government to issue directives to the officials of the irrigation department to arrange water pumps to drain the water out of their villages.