SWABI: Low gas pressure has hit the consumers hard in Swabi in the severe cold weather.

The consumers told Dawn here on Monday that the low gas pressure coupled with severe winter had made lives of people miserable.

Muzamil Khan, a local trader, said that owing to low gas pressure women were unable to prepare food for their families.

However, he said that early winter vacations in educational institutions had provided a little solace to the housewives as they didn’t have to cook breakfast for school-going children so early in the morning.

Irshad Khan of Palodand village said that the worst sufferers were government and private employees who had to leave for offices without having breakfast.

“For the last few days I have been leaving for office without having breakfast due to low gas pressure,” said Rohal Amin Khan of proper Swabi city.

The consumers urged the SNGPL officials to take practical steps for resolving the problem. No SNGPL official was available to comment on the issue.

Meanwhile, the prices of fuel wood have gone up amid the low gas pressure.

It was observed that the dealers charged Rs300 per 40 kilogram of wood, but they increased the price to Rs400 after low gas pressure hit the district. The timber dealers said that more increase in fuel wood was likely in coming days.

TWO KILLED: Two persons were killed in separate incidents on Monday.

A man identified as Hamza Dher of Abdul Hai was allegedly shot dead by one Abdul Rauf and his accomplice near the former’s house.

Faraz Khan, brother of the deceased, told police that cause of the incident was an old rivalry over a woman issue.

In Yar Hussain village, Asim Khan was shot dead by Farooq Khan of the same area after exchange of hot words with the former.

Nur Taj, father of the deceased got registered FIR of the case in Yar Hussain police station against Farooq, who has been arrested by police.

POLICEMEN ESCAPE ATTACK: Two police personnel escaped unhurt as unknown miscreants opened fire on them near Maneri Payyan graveyard in the jurisdiction of city police station on Monday.

The policemen riding a motorcycle were on a routine patrol and when they reportedly signaled two persons, riding a motorbike to stop, they started firing on the policemen. The policemen retaliated, but the attackers fled away.

Published in Dawn, December 23rd, 2014