Karachi: Power riots broke out in different parts of Pakistan's commercial capital due to a severe energy crisis, even as civic system continued to be hampered by heavy rains that claimed at least 42 lives.
Karachi Electric Supply Corporation chief executive
officer, Naveed Ismail said the power riots and attacks on
power workers and offices were hampering the restoration work.
"The power supply was disrupted due to rain related
problems in the distribution system caused by the heavy rains.
But our workers are facing problems getting to sites and
carrying out repair and restoration work because of the power
rioters," Ismail said.
Since the rain spell which continued for a 24 hour
spell from Saturday evening many areas of Karachi have been
without power supply for 24 to 48 hours leading to the power
riots.
The heavy monsoon rains in which 42 rain related
deaths have been confirmed by official sources since Saturday
have led to a widespread power outage in the city of some 16
million people.
Enraged protesters in many parts of the city including
the posh localities of Clifton and Defence attacked at least
21 offices of the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation forcing
the police and rangers to baton charge them and resort to
shelling leaving many injured.
The power riots also led to a widespread breakdown of
the normal traffic flow in the city causing massive traffic
jams with some roads still flooded with rain water making life
miserable for the motorists.
"In some areas the protesters damaged vehicles and set
up bonfires on the main road but the riots were controlled
quickly by the police," a senior police official said.
Pakistan’s biggest city has already been facing a
massive power supply crisis for a long time now with even
before the rains came down the authorities resorting regular
load-shedding lasting for hours.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, July 21, 2009, 18:32