HYDERABAD, Oct 20: Power breakdowns of longer spells continued in several parts of interior of Sindh on the second consecutive day on Sunday.

The areas of Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Mirpurkhas, Tando Adam, Sakrand and Thatta remained without power from Saturday midnight.

In some of the areas, the situation began improving on Sunday morning while in the other areas, power supply was restored in the afternoon.

There was no official word from Hyderabad Electric Supply Company about the power breakdown and the area affected by it.

When contacted, Hesco sources attributed the continued breakdowns to tripping of transmission lines due to fog.

While the Help-line of Hesco knew nothing about the power breakdown, the officials at the concerned sub-divisions confirmed that there had been no power supply in their areas on Saturday night.

An official of Hala grid station, wherefrom nine feeders of 11,000KV emanate, confirmed that power supply was badly affected in its command area since Saturday night. He claimed that it was on account of thick fog.

The transmission lines, he said, had gathered dust because of no rains and the dust, having mixed up with fog, was frequently leading to tripping of transmission lines.

Another Hesco official said that the lines needed to be cleared of dust and it was for the concerned sub-division staff to do the work.

He claimed that it were the insulators that were initially affected and that ultimately caused suspension of power supply.

Our Sanghar Correspondent adds: The power supply is being cut off for at least 10 hours in almost the entire district since the last three days.

Hesco sources claimed that the failure was “due to heavy dew” on the ceramic discs causing the 132kw transmission lines to trip.

People suffered all the more because of the hot weather. Besides, many localities remained without any water because of the power supply being cut off.

Reports our Khairpur Correspondent: Protest against Hesco, Khairpur and Ranipur divisions, entered second consecutive day on Sunday when three rallies were staged in different parts of Khairpur district.

The rallies were staged in protest against unscheduled load-shedding and disconnection of power supply to some villages,

A large number of residents of Khanpur village staged a rally against disconnection of electricity supply to their village.

Their representatives told newsmen despite the directives of Hesco chief, local officials of the company had disconnected the electricity supply to the village.

The electricity supply of 15 villages of Kot Diji taluka — including Malir Pato, Jan Mohammad, Bangal Khan, Bakho Lashari, Arbab Wassan and Ghous Bukhsh Gaho — was disconnected on charges of power theft and default.

Scores of citizens took out two separate processions in Bozdar Wada and Talpur Wada and staged a sit-in on the Thariri-Bozdar Wada road.

The protesters said the electricity supply to the town remained suspended for two days sometime.