NAUSHAHRO FEROZE, June 20: A number of residents belonging to nine villages took out a rally and blocked the National Highway against the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco) for its disconnection drive here on Tuesday.

Belonging to Sain Rakhio Chandio, Dinghano Chandio, Fazal Chandio, Mubarak Dangraj, Arbab Chandio, Rasool Bux Dangraj, Ghulam Hyder Baat, Fazal Tagar and other villages, the protesters led by Shaman Chandio, Mazhar Dangraj, Asghar Chandio and Koro Chandio took out a rally and staged a sit-in on the National Highway near petrol pump.

They burnt tyres and blocked the highway for about one hour.

The protesters alleged that the Hesco had issued them detection and inflated bills, while unannounced load-sheding for several hours was continuing.

They claimed that power was discontinued four days ago while villagers were experiencing shortage of water as there was no water in Darbelo minor hence most of their lands were fed water through tube-wells. Following disconnection of power, there was severe shortage of drinking water in theses villages.

The district naib nazim, Ali Almani and SDO of Hesco, Iqbal Rajput, reached on the spot and, after assurance of restoration of power, the protesters dispersed peacefully.

The Hesco SDO said that these villages have become no-go areas where Hesco official were unable to visit these areas in the evening and villagers take illegal connection through kunda.