ALPURI: The persistent power outages in Shangla district have become a severe issue, making life difficult for residents, particularly during the harsh winter. The local residents said the loadshedding has been a routine problem in Shangla for the last two years.
According to Peshawar Electric Supply Company officials, high losses on this feeder are the reason behind frequent power cuts, with electricity being switched off every hour from Alpuri to Ranyal and Lilownai. The duration of these outages often extends to 16 hours.
However, this winter, Pesco has introduced a new pattern — shutting down the power supply completely from Kotkai Grid Station to Alpuri as soon as it starts raining. “This sudden outage affects not only Alpuri but also Ranyal and Lilownai, leaving the entire valley in darkness,” said a local resident, adding the severe cold weather has already made life difficult for residents, and now, continuous power outages have added to their misery.
Additionally, due to heavy rainfall and landslides, many small hydropower stations in the area have also stopped functioning, further worsening the electricity crisis.Previously, Pesco’s Alpuri division justified the issue by citing a lack of staff.
However, despite new recruitments, the situation has barely improved. Transformer failures remain a common issue, and when a transformer breaks down, it takes up to five days to be repaired, leaving entire areas with-out electricity.
The trend of shutting down power during rainfall has now become a norm in winter, severely affecting local businesses, traders, and industries that rely on electricity.Despite repeated protests by traders and local residents, Pesco’s sub-divisional office in Alpuri has not taken any significant steps to resolve the crisis.
Despite growing frustration among residents, traders, and business owners, no visible action has been taken by Pesco to address the worsening electricity crisis in Shangla. The locals have demanded immediate intervention from higher authorities to resolve the issue and ensure a stable power supply, especially during harsh weather conditions.