MIRANSHAH: Electricity supply across North Waziristan remained suspended for the fifth consecutive day after a tower of the 132-kV main transmission line collapsed in the Gurbaz area during gusty winds and heavy rain, causing severe disruption to daily life and business activities.
The prolonged power outage has created an acute water shortage in the district, while children, elderly people and patients are facing serious difficulties.
According to local residents, water supplies have run dry in several areas, including in homes and mosques, leaving people without water even for ablution. The local residents accused Tribal Areas Electric Supply Company officials of negligence and indifference, alleging that despite the passage of five days, no practical restoration work had been initiated on the damaged transmission tower.
Affected residents said they had repeatedly lodged complaints with TESCO chief Tahir Jamal and other concerned authorities, but no serious action had been taken.
The residents appealed to Awais Leghari to take immediate notice of the situation and order emergency measures for restoration of electricity in Waziristan.
The locals pointed out that incidents involving the collapse of transmission towers on the main power line to North Waziristan had become increasingly frequent during storms and heavy rains.
They said this was the third such incident during the current year, adding that millions of rupees from the national exchequer had already been spent on repair work, yet no permanent and effective preventive measures had been implemented.
Meanwhile, with only one day left before Eidul Azha, residents expressed growing concern over the continued suspension of electricity supply.
