Over 2,000 fake emergency calls: KE

Over 2,000 “exaggerated and fake emergency complaints” were reportedly lodged at K-Electric’s (KE’s) helpline 118 in recent days, creating hurdles in the way of rain-related emergency measures and leading to unnecessary power outages, according to an statement issued by the power utility on Thursday. The statement read, “Constituting 57 per cent of the total emergency complaints, these resulted in diversion of [already] constrained resources from other serious and life-threatening hazards and were an underlying reason for extended outages in a few areas.” A KE spokesperson explained that emergency complaints could be lodged in case of downed power lines, damaged electrical infrastructure or sparking during torrential rain and urban flooding. He added that the power utility immediately suspended electricity supply to such areas as a public safety measure, while teams were dispatched to immediately resolve the matter. “Unfortunately, we learnt that the majority of complaints were not genuinely emergencies, but rather an effort to bypass the process [of lodging a regular complaint],” he claimed.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31^st, 2020.