The K-Electric’s glitches on Sunday night led to a major power breakdown for the fourth time in a week on Monday morning and the fault could not be removed in several areas.
According to reports, all units of Bin Qasim-1 and 2 went off after Bin Qasim transmission line tripped which intensified potable water shortage in the city.
The affected areas include Model Colony, Gulistan Johar, Gulshan Iqbal, North Nazimabad, Buffer Zone, Nazimabad, Gulshan Mamar, Scheme 33, Malir, New Karachi, Sajani Town and Gadap. Power supply to at least 50 percent of the areas was cut after auto transformers of the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) tripped last night.
The K-Electric spokesperson gave excuse of increased moisture in Bin Qasim transmission line. As many as 95 feeders from Bin Qasim line tripped. The K-Electric authorities claimed to clear fault within 30 minutes. However, the spokesperson said that restoration process had been initiated. On the other hand, the water board’s spokesperson said that power supply to Gharu, Hub and Dhiabiji pumping stations was cut which caused rising line of Dhabaiji No 5 to burst. Resultantly, the people were deprived of hundreds of gallons of water. The Board’s managing director (MD) has issued directives to repair the damages.
Meanwhile, residents of the city fed up with the power breakdowns have started protesting. Protesters took to the streets, burnt tyres and blocked Jamshed Road and Nazimabad.
Being concerned over the K-Electric’s pathetic performance, Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani demanded registration of a case against it for its failure to curb prolonged power outages in Karachi.
Speaking to media persons in the assembly, Durrani said that an FIR should be registered against KE authorities whom he held responsible for hundreds of deaths that occurred during the recent heat wave. The speaker also extended his support for legislation to ‘punish’ the company for its ‘failure’ in providing uninterrupted power supply to the mega city which experienced fourth major power breakdown of this week today.
Meanwhile, MQM chief Altaf Hussain criticised the K-Electric (KE) saying that the sole power utility of Karachi had failed to provide uninterrupted electricity to the city.
In his telephonic address from London to party workers at Nine Zero, the MQM chief directed party’s co-ordination committee to organise citywide protest demonstrations against the KE.
According to a statement, the co-ordination committee has strongly condemned the fourth power breakdowns on electricity in Karachi during one week saying that the blackout indicated incompetence and criminal negligence of the KE.
The MQM has demanded of the chief justice of Supreme Court, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah to take serious notice of power breakdowns in Karachi and take concrete steps for resolving the issue.
