BADIN, June 6: Life of the people of Badin has become miserable with a soaring temperatures coupled with frequent power breakdowns and a Hesco crackdown on consumers through imposition of heavy amounts in the shape of detection bills. No measures, however, were visible to improve line losses and power supply system in the district. The power breakdowns have become more acute in rural as well urban centres of the district.

The frequent power breakdowns had forced the people to spend sleepless nights on Saturday, Sunday and Monday causing acute shortage of drinking water.

Major breakdown hit the whole district on Saturday on the pretext of repair works when power supply was suspended at 8.30am on Saturday for 12 hours which was restored at 8.30pm. It again went off on Sunday night and was restored at 3am on Monday. Power disruption again hit the district on Monday morning at 6.30am and was restored at 5.30pm.

The Hesco officials said that first shutdown occurred because of the repair work while repeated breakdowns took place due to faults created in the lines. Repeated power failures forced the consumers to take to the streets against the Hesco authorities in the shape of a number of small and big rallies in different towns.

Protest demonstrations were taken out in Talhar, Tando Bago and Shaheed Fazil Rahu on Monday against the Hesco authorities.

The protesters claimed that the Hesco officials had been patronizing illegal AC connections which was damaging the overburdened PMTs.

They maintained that the line staff was involved in extortions by obliging illegal beneficiaries while the common consumers were forced to share the burden of these unjustified connections for none of their fault. They demanded of the government to look into the public grievances and relieve them of the mental tortures being created by the Hesco authorities.