DADU: A large number of power consumers took to the streets of Dadu on Saturday against alleged what they described as callousness of local power utility officials and some corrupt employees who, according to them, are not entertaining their frantic appeals for the restoration of electric supply to their areas for the last four days amid sizzling weather conditions.

Residents of Soomra, Brohi and Jamali Colonies took out a rally after power supply to their area remained suspended for a fifth day due to a burnt transformer. They alleged that some corrupt technicians were demanding Rs15,000 for the replacement of the transformer.

Speaking to the media outside the local press club, Citizens Action Committee president Abdul Jabbar Babar, who led the protesters, said for a couple of weeks, Dadu temperature was being recorded at 49-50 degrees Celsius but power consumers were being made to endure excessive loadshedding across the district. So much so that thousands of rupees were being demanded as bribe for the replacement of the burnt transformer, he added. The absence of electricity had deteriorated the water supply and sanitation situation in the area, he said.

Meanwhile, two more persons, Mohabbat Soomro and Dr Mehmood Mughal, died from heatstroke in the same affected area leading the death toll to six over the past few days.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2015

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