PESHAWAR, June 6: Unidentified saboteurs blew up two towers on the main high-voltage power supply line in the Darra Adamkhel tribal belt, some 25km from here, on Wednesday night.

The sabotage resulted in the suspension of electricity supply to a number of areas in the southern parts of the NWFP and the tribal agencies of Kurram and North and South Waziristan.

One of the towers collapsed due to the explosion, while the other was partially damaged, a Wapda spokesman told Dawn by telephone on Thursday.

The act caused suspension of electricity supply to Kohat, Hangu, Thall, Sadda, Alizai, Parachinar, Gurguri, Lachi, Karak, Bannu, Mirali, Miranshah, Razmak and some other areas.

The power supply was temporarily restored to most of the areas after two hours of struggle by the Peshawar Electric Supply Company staff, while the repair of the other tower, which had collapsed, would take three to four days, the Wapda official said.

He said the Pesco had to take recourse to power management in these areas to overcome the load voltage problem and ensure a smooth supply of electricity in this hot season.

To a question, he ruled out the possibility of any reaction on the part of the tribesmen to the Wapda’s ‘meterization’ drive in the tribal agencies, saying the blowing of the main towers and the suspension of electricity also landed the Darra residents in trouble.

He said the company had lodged complaint with the provincial government and the political administration of the Frontier Region of Kohat.

Some consumers, when contacted, said the Wapda had resorted to the worst kind of loadshedding in the southern parts of the province, particularly rural areas.

They were also critical of the indifferent attitude of the Wapda officials, saying the electricity supply remained suspended most of the time, especially in the night. They also complained of receiving inflated power bills.