Heat claims 14 more lives in Punjab, KP

LAHORE/NOWSHERA: Severe heat and unbearable humidity claimed another 14 lives on Monday, as people also faced worst power loadshedding in the country.Three deaths each were reported from various areas of Sheikhupura, Faisalabad and Sahiwal with one in Dipalpur (Okara) but it was Karak with topped the list with four casualties. Women, children, elderly people and male labourers are among the victims of heatstroke.
In Dera Ismail Khan, around six persons fainted as the maximum temperature touched 46 degree Celsius. Several people also reported fainted in Wazirabad and other areas of Punjab.In Nowshera, thousands of power consumers ransacked the Peshawar Electricity Supply Company (Pesco) office in Taru Jabba and blocked the GT Road for five hours to protest the excessive loadshedding.
The dwellers of various villages including Akbarpura, Balo, Khushmuqam, Karvi, Titarah Zukhi and surrounding areas were among the protesters, as announcements were made from loudspeakers in mosques, asking the people to come out of their houses and join the protest.
The charged protesters ransacked the furniture, computers and destroyed the record at the Pesco office. Later, they gathered at the GT Road and blocked it for traffic for five hours. PTI district councillor-elect Mian Inamullah and tehsil councillor-elect Haider Ali Shah Bacha led the protesters.
The baton-wielding youngsters also broke the windscreens of several vehicles to stop them from breaking the escaping the road blockade.The closure of the busy GT Road led to long queues of vehicles as people faced immense hardships. Several women, children and elderly commuters fainted due to the scorching heat after being stuck in their vehicles for several hours. The police was apparently helpless to stop the protesters from resorting to violence and in ending the roadblock.
Later, the district administration and Pesco officials held talks with the protesters, making them to disperse after they were assured of relief.Meanwhile, Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali condemned the attack on the Pesco offices at Taru Jabba.
In a statement, Abid said there were 650 feeders in Pesco, out of which 193 had been fully exempted from loadshedding where losses were below 30 per cent. He said the load management was scheduled on directives of the chief minister.
“About 80 per cent losses take place in Taru Jabba and despite Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s pledge to help in recovery, no action against power theft has been taken,” he added. Meanwhile, reports of loadshedding and protests also came from Kasur, Gujrat, Hafizabad and other town and cities of Punjab.On the other hand, the difference between power supply and demand stood at 6,560 MW, sources in Energy Management Cell said.