KHAR: Power supply across Bajaur Agency remained suspended for the fourth straight day on Monday due to a technical fault in the local 66,000kv grid station.

Sources said that the grid station, which supplied electricity to the whole agency, developed fault after lightning hit it on Friday, burning two transformers and other costly equipments.

It was not clear yet as to when the grid station would be repaired as most vital equipments had been damaged, which were no available locally, said the sources.

An official of Tribal Electric Supply Company (Tesco) in Khar said that a team of technical experts had been making hectic efforts to repair the grid station. However, he said that as the damage was so severe that it would take up to three days to repair.

Meanwhile, local tribesmen showed concern over the delay in repairing of the grid station, saying that they were facing difficulties as power blackout had caused acute water shortage in the region.

The tribesmen blamed the local administration and the Tesco officials for not taking interest to restore the power supply immediately.

Meanwhile, Bajaur Students Federation has warned to stage a protest demonstration if the power supply wasn`t restored till Tuesday morning (today).

The federation`s president Assadullah Khan Khilji told journalists on Monday that the power suspension had gravely affected their studies. Correspondent