Sharjah: As the day broke after a sweaty night, Sharjah authorities tested residents again with more power cuts in various residential and commercial areas.
“We haven’t slept last night because of power cut in our area,” said a mother of two in Sharjah’s Bu Daniq area. “I had to force my sleepy children onto the school bus this morning,” said the mother.
Calls to the helpline at Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority went unanswered and in many residential areas people were found sleeping rough on the streets to escape the heat.
There were reports of fresh power cuts late on Tuesday night in Sharjah – with some residential areas going without power between 11pm and 1am Tuesday.
Residents were out on the street late at night, with some people opting to sleep in their cars as it meant they could turn the AC on.
Power cuts have left residents in the sweltering heat for over eight hours earlier on Tuesday.
Residential and commercial areas, such as Al Majaz and Al Khan, as well as Industrial Areas 6 and 17, experienced a power outage that started in the morning yesterday.
Watch video: How Sharjah coped without power last year
The fluctuations have come at a crucial time for tenants who have to face the summer heat without any reprieve, and it has also become a concern for parents since their children are unable to study properly for their final school examinations.
“Residents in some of the towers are having a tough time with lifts not working, and it has been off since 1pm. In my building people had to climb all the way up to 12 floors,” said a resident who lives in Al Majaz 3.
M. Harris, a resident in Industrial Area 17, said that most of her neighbours had moved out of the building because they were unable to cope with the previous power outages.
“The power cut started at 8m and my children are having a tough time because they cannot study for their examinations. We cannot do anything about it and it is impossible to stay indoors for seven hours straight without an air condition. I do not know what I will do with the food I have in the freezer, and I will probably end up having to throw it out.”
Businesses fared no better with the electricity fluctuations and several businessmen said they have been suffering for the past one month.
“Business has been suffering for almost one month because of the regular power cuts. The electricity supply is disrupted for many hours at least twice a week, and my employees are unable to sleep in their accommodation because of the problem,” said Hesham, who works in Industrial Area 6.
Map: Areas that have been affected by Sharjah's power cuts
View Sharjah power cuts in a larger map
Are you affected by the shortage of electricity in Sharjah? Did you experience any power outages at your place recently? Please let us know where you live, when the power went out and how long the cut lasted in the comments form below.
