TAXILA, July 9: The residents of Taxila, Wah Cantonment and Hassanabdal have been braving nerve-wracking prolonged power loadshedding, rendering alternative mode of electricity generation useless.

After every hour power goes off in most areas not only making people to have sleepless nights but also affecting their day time routine.

Besides, power fluctuation is another issue the people have to grip with as it destroys electric appliances and complaints in this regard have been pouring in.

In this hot and humid weather, the 12-hour-long power loadshedding has aggravated water shortage in these areas.

Citizens of most areas said that despite claims of more power generation and resumption of electricity from the independent power producers, who had earlier stopped supplying electricity due to unavailability of fuel, almost no relief had been provided to them.

Talking to this reporter, residents of different areas said the unscheduled and prolonged loadshedding had made the sweltering heat unbearable. Zubair Khan, a government employee, said the situation got worse when electricity went off.

Najam Iqbal, a resident of Lalarukh area has said: “We cannot survive without water and electricity.”

Haider Shah, a resident of Wahdat Colony, said that with the increase of mercury level, loadshedding has multiplied their problems, as children could not sleep during the nights.

Shahgfta Perveen, a housewife, criticised the government functionaries indifference towards provision of basic needs like electricity, gas and water. “We pay all taxes, but we are not provided even basic facilities,” she said.

Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. Mohammad Shahid said that all hospitals received several patients suffering from severe heat-related problems, including dehydration, loose motions and vomiting. He advised people to protect themselves from direct exposure to the sun to avoid sunstroke.

He also advised people to use excessive water to avoid dehydration.