Power cuts in Shangla: Residents allege officials involved in electricity theft

Miscreants disrupt electric supply, throw power cable into the river.

SHANGLA: Unidentified persons cut off the main power supply line in Thakot area of Chakesar, district Shangla and threw it away in the Indus River on Sunday, said officials.

Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) Sub-division officer (SDO)  Aziz Khan said the incident took place during the prolonged power outages. The accused climbed the 11KV towers managing not only to disrupt the powers supply to hundreds of villages but also discarding hundreds of metres long electric wire into the river, said Khan.



“We will soon repair the line and reconnect the power supply”, said the SDO. He, however, failed to mention in how many days the supply would be restored and refused to comment further.

Meanwhile, a police official said so far no official complaint has been lodged, so investigations could not begin. Residents alleged Pesco officials themselves were complicit in the incident. There is no evidence that the wire was thrown into the river, they said, adding that it was stolen.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 1^st, 2013.