ATTOCK, May 25: Pakistan Railways run on diesel, but it was power cut that threw the system off track at the Attock Railway Station on Wednesday.

Staff at the station’s control room, ticket windows and signaling points found it difficult to run the system as the Iesco cut off power supply to the station and the railway colony to recover Rs2.6 million in unpaid bills for the last six months.

Sale and booking of tickets was suspended as the computer-based reservation system went down without power.

Intending passengers said no alternative arrangements were made to serve them.

Working of the trains’ control room, signal system and other departments, including parcel office, were also badly affected.

Mohammad Ismail, in-charge reservation office, confirmed that working at the reservation system and other departments has suffered because of power disconnection. He said he did not know about the exact amount of liabilities to Iesco. He added that apart from the passengers and the staff, the employees’ families in the colony were facing many problems.

“The colony was facing shortage of drinking water because of power disconnection.” Ismail said the higher authorities were informed about the situation.

Mohammad Iqbal, an Iesco official at revenue office, said the power supply was disconnected on the orders of the “higher authorities”. He said more than Rs2.6 dues were outstanding against the railway station. “The last payment was made in November last year. Despite several reminders, no payment has been made in the last six months.”

He said a final notice was issued to the railway station administration a week back. “They had assured payment of arrears but did not.”

When told that the disconnection was causing difficulties for a large number of people, the official said: “Any further decision will be taken by the higher authorities. But we cannot restore power supply of railway station without payment of arrears.”