BUNER(NADER KHAN): Damaged power transmission lines in various parts of flood-affected areas have caused water shortage and have badly affected the routine lives of the people, as most of the tube wells are dysfunctional due to prolonged power suspension and damage to water channels.
The devastating flood has not only destroyed the power pylon but also swept away the sanitation system in the area, which has caused a severe water crisis in the flood-affected areas of Pir Baba, Beshoni, Koot village and Gookand. People are mostly relying on generators to pump out water from various water wells, but it is costly due to the high price of petrol.
Talking to Pakhtun Digital, Noman Khan resident of Buner, said that people are facing multifarious problems in flood-affected areas. The power suspension has caused a water crisis in the area, and people are bringing water from the far-flung areas to address their needs. The volunteers who are contributing to rescue activities are also facing water and power issues in the area.
He urged the government to send WAPDA teams from other areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to repair the damaged power transmission line in the area. He said that people had installed a solar system on their own expense in the area, but due to a huge flood, their solar system was either washed away by the flood or badly damaged due to water inundation.
A WAPDA technical worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity that the damaged power transmission lines will need a huge amount to repair and government and WAPDA high-ups should immediately release funds for the purchase of wires and electricity pylons.
He said that most of the villages lack power supply due to damaged transmission lines, and urgent work is needed to restore their electricity supply to run their routine activities. He said that they are working day and night, but there is a shortage of staff and resources to completely restore the system.
The rescue workers and volunteers have also demanded the government to take urgent steps for the restoration of power transmission lines in the affected areas. Most of the water wells depend on electricity to pump clean drinking water for daily use.
The residents also appealed to the officials of the public health department to speed up work for the restoration of the water channel, which has been washed away by the devastating flood.
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