MANSEHRA: The people of Mansehra city and its outskirts have resented the unscheduled power outages, especially during Iftar, Sehr and taraweeh hours.

Criticising the Peshawar Electric Supply Company over their misery, they insisted that the electric supply remained suspended for more than 10 hours daily amid hot weather.

They also complained about low voltage saying it is rendering electric appliances faulty.

“We’re unable to operate water pumps due to the frequent power outages and low voltage and therefore, the area has a severe water shortage,” said local resident Mohammad Hussain.

He said the suspension of electric supply lasted more than 10 hours daily stressing out the people in scorching heat.

People threaten protests over unscheduled loadshedding

Mr Hussain demanded of the Pesco to ensure adherence to the loadshedding schedule in Ramazan.

The residents of Oghi, Balakot, Shinkiari and remote areas of Mansehra district complained that the Pesco subjected them to more than 12 hours daily.

They warned that they would take to the streets if the excessive power outages weren’t checked.

WATER SHORTAGE: The people of Mansehra city and its adjoining areas have complained about an acute water shortage in the area.

They insisted that the Tehsil Municipal Administration had suspended water supply to Mohallah Ayub, Mohallah Sainabad, Jabri Dehri, Muftiabad and other parts of the city and suburbs after the start of Ramazan.

“The people have been without water supply for almost two weeks showing the local government system’s utter failure to deliver the goods but nobody in authority cares about their misery,” local resident Mohammad Ali told reporters.

He said water supply from Booth Khatta had long been suspended and the people’s misery had increased after the drying up of the only source of water, the Ichar Nullah Water Supply Scheme.

Mr Ali said tehsil nazim Khurram Khan Swati had announced the launch of potable water supply scheme but it was no materialised and water scarcity hit the city and its suburbs.

Convener of the TMA water supply committee Mian Ibrar told reporters that work on two tubewells had entered final stages and once it was complete, water supply to the city would begin.

“We have spent over Rs40 million on the sinking of two tubewells as an emergency plan to address water issue,” he said.

Mr Ibrar said the tubewells would supply over 200,000 gallons of water daily to the relief of the locals.

TWO DIE: A minor boy drowned in the Kunhar River in Balakot here on Saturday, while a man died as a truck plunged into a deep ravine in Lower Kohistan.

Rizwan Ahmad, 5, drowned as he slipped into the river in Kholian Tarairi area.

The divers began a search but they didn’t find the body until night.

Also in the day, driver Abdul Hameed died and cleaner Ali Sher suffered injuries when a truck fell into a deep ravine in Lower Kohistan.

The truck was bound for Rawalpindi from Gilgit.

The doctors of a nearby hospital referred the injured to the Ayub Medical Complex, Abbottabad, where his condition was stated to be out of danger.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2018