Halwan area residents 'left in the dark' for three days

Sharjah: Several residents of the Halwan area, located opposite Al Qasimi Hospital, have had no power for the past three days and are forced to bathe in cold water.

Residents called the Sharjah Electricity Water Authority (Sewa) hotline, 992, but did not receive an answer.

"I placed candles all across the floor and in the rooms, and we have had to bathe in very cold water, which was a terrible experience for my child," said Yousuf, a UAE national.

"The problem started when the rain came, and I am worried that the water connection may soon be affected as well," he said.

Sunil, an Indian family-man with two children had to take the day off work yesterday, as he waited at home to check whether the electricity would return. "My children cannot come home from school to a house without electricity," he said.

A neighbouring family living in a two-storey building had their water supply disconnected yesterday morning, and were upset at the reply they received from the Sewa electrician over the power problem.

"He said that there was a problem with one of the cables from the main power station and he said he was helpless," said Anil, a father of three children including a newly born.

Sewa was unavailable for comment.

Dubai Municipality: Water-logging 'tackled successfully'

Dubai Municipality said it had successfully tackled the 45mm- rain which fell in Dubai recently and caused large pools of water in many streets and residential areas.

Engineer Hussain Mattar Lootah, Acting Director of DM said that the municipality put all its capabilities around the clock to deal with the unexpected rain, through work teams of more than 500 employees, who worked more than 18 extra hours through the past three days.

- WAM