SWABI, May 13: The Peshawar Electric Supply Company has so far been unable to restore power supply to many areas of Swabi district where two transformers broke down on Tuesday.

Sources said a 100kv transformer in the congested Topi locality broke down on Tuesday, while the other ceased to work in the Bamkhel locality due to what the locals said 'high voltage'.

Consumers in Topi told Dawn on Thursday that the transformer stopped functioning after a fire broke out in it, adding that the area had been without electric supply for the last 40 hours.

A Pesco official later claimed that power supply would be restored soon. Area people said they repeatedly approached the officials concerned to get the transformer replaced before the onset of summer. But, they claimed, the Pesco officials delayed the matter and the old transformer gave way when the district was in the grip of a severe heatwave. A 50kv transformer broke down in the Bamkhel village six days ago but the Pesco officials failed to repair or replace it, sources said.

Area people said they would stage a protest demonstration if Pesco failed to restore power supply immediately.

TRANSFORMER DEMANDED: Residents of Arakh village in the Taraki union council have demanded installation of a power transformer in their area which, they claimed, had already been sanctioned to overcome the low voltage problem.

They said the village required two 50kv transformers as the one installed there was overloaded and could break down anytime.