LAHORE, Jan 22: Lahorites awakened to the perils of their complete dependence on gas when they had to do without it on Wednesday.

The rupture of gas pipelines and consequent suspension of supply underscored those perils all too emphatically, as people discovered that the gadgets for alternative modes of cooking were out of fashion as well as market.

With gas supplies hitting rock bottom, people were in for a rude awakening when they had to spend better part of the day waiting for bread at tandoors, searching for firewood and paying exorbitant prices for Liquefied Petroleum Gas.

The gas supply had been suspended “for a day or two” because of the explosion at a gas station, which ruptured the pipelines.

Wood, coal and kerosene oil, used in alternative modes of cooking, have become scarce because of people’s preference for the cheap and clean source of gas.

Firewood used to be in abundance in pre-gas times, but it slowly and steadily went out of fashion with gas gadgets invading the kitchens. Similarly, coal stores, found in every locality only a decade ago, now need a lot of effort to be located.

The gadgets required for these modes of cooking also fell into disuse. Now, dealing in braziers and stoves is no longer considered a lucrative business.

Most of the tandoors in the city also used gas because of the scarcity and high cost of wood and coal.

Wednesday’s suspension of gas supply was a rude shock for most of the Lahorites. Some tandoors threw away their burners and used wood and coal instead. This obviously affected their efficiency.

Same was the situation in shops where kerosene oil and stoves were on sale. The lucky few still in possession of an archaic gadget like a stove were shocked by the shopkeepers, who had increased prices by at least 20 per cent.

Most of the people claimed that they had gone to their offices without taking a bath or breakfast, as no gas was available for geysers and cookers. Theoretically, the supply of gas was not stopped. However, it was hardly sufficient for heating and cooking purposes, specially for the tail-enders.