Karachi loses its cool in massive power breakdown

As a result, many areas suffer from water crisis

KARACHI: The misery of residents of Karachi was inexplicable as the city was hit by a massive power breakdown that lasted for between five and eight hours on Thursday.

A large number of people even took to the streets against K-Electric as the power cuts, coupled with the brutal heat and the consequent water crisis, made them lose their patience.

According to the spokesperson for K-Electric (K-E), the current cycle of increased load-shedding is due to the tripping of a unit in Bin Qasim power plant, which has resulted in a shortfall of 250 megawatts. He added that the low supply of gas to power units has also aggravated the problem. The areas that were affected in the power breakdown include Malir, Mehmoodababad, Federal B Area, Gulshan e Iqbal, Landhi, Korangi, Lyari, Saddar and Keamari.



“We have been disturbed due to load-shedding lasting for up to nine hours in our areas,” said Azmat Shah, a medical store owner in Bizerta Lines. “There is announced load-shedding and the power utility company has deprived us of the basic facility of uninterrupted supply of electricity.” According to him, the situation has worsened so much that people have to rely on their generators, which often leads to scuffles among neighbours.

Shakeel Siddiqui, another victim of over 12 hours of power cuts and a resident of Saudabad, remarked that their children and women have to suffer at the hands of K-E. He added that either K-E should mend its way of operations or hand the company back to the government. Siddiqui added that it has become a routine that their system breaks down in every summer.

Majority of the areas, which were exempted of electricity load-shedding earlier, have been witnessing four to six hours of load-shedding as soon as the summers have approached, said Taimoor Talpur, a resident of Gulshan-e-Iqbal.



Talking to The Express Tribune, K-E Communications Director Sadia Dada said that repair work is in process. Meanwhile, she said, K-E is managing the shortfall by initiating a rotational cycle of intermittent electricity load-shedding. “The situation will be improved as soon as possible,” she said.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson of Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), Safdar Khunharo, denied the K-E’s claim and said that SSGC, despite getting low gas pressure, has been providing the designated quota of 160 million cubic feet per day to K-E.

Karachiites took to Twitter to express anger and frustration:

#KElectric you are the one who really needs a lot of forgiveness this night. #Shabebarat

— Aon Hussain (@aonhussain) May 11, 2017

on this holy night I curse you #KElectric #MaryamLightChaliGai @MaryamNSharif I curse you Nawaz may Panama dig final nail in ur Taboot.

— Axif Panhwar (@Axif_PanhwaR) May 11, 2017

Only 3 hours of intermittent power supply since last 12 hours. Shame shame #nakaamleague. #Kelectric #gulshaneiqbal #Karachi

— Agha Sabir Ali (@AghaSabir) May 11, 2017

It's funny and sad that the first thing I have to ask my family when I call them is light hai aaj? #KElectric #energycrisis

— Zainul Abedeen (Goplani) (@ZainGoplani) May 11, 2017