MIRPURKHAS: Crisis of gas supply has deepened in the city in the wake of rain as stagnant rainwater and sewage has seeped into gas pipelines through ruptured joints leading to blockages in the supply.

Sources said that most areas of the city remained deprived of gas supply for the last 12 days.

The Sui Southern Gas Company officials carried out prolonged loadshedding even during rains in order to cover growing line losses but it created a vacuum in the pipelines which was filled with rainwater and sewage, said the sources.

During construction of mega drainage project, the gas supply lines developed leaks and ruptures at several places which were left unattended by negligent SSGC officials, they said.

They said that a number of local teams were busy plugging the leaks after trying in vain to empty the lines of water hence they urged the authorities to send for technical teams from Hyderabad for early repairs of the lines.

People fear that if the leaks were not plugged in time the entire city would be deprived of gas supply within a few days thanks to serious negligence of the officers of SSGC Mirpurkhas.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2024