LANDI KOTAL, Aug 2: Shortage of ice is so severe in Landi Kotal Bazaar that its price has reached Rs100 per kg, an all-time high, though the official rate is Rs15 per kg for Ramazan.

The situation has forced people, including women and children, to wait for hours to get ice.

Heated exchanges and scuffles among ice buyers have also been reported.

Ice has been in short supply since the start of Ramazan with vendors blaming it on excessive loadshedding, saying most factories don’t operate as electric supply remains suspended for most part of the day.

On Thursday, two vans transported limited blocks of ice to the bazaar. Many buyers failed to get ice, however.

Buyers included locals and Loe Shalman, Kam Shalman and Bazaar Zakhakhel residents.

Ezat Khan, a local resident, said he got four kilogrammes of ice but feared it might melt by the time he would reach home in the evening.

Lal Rahim, president of local trader union, said people were ready to pay any price for ice in view of its severe shortage.

He said the local administration had assured people of sufficient supply of ice to the bazaar but the assurance turned out to be false.

Mr Rahim alleged that khasadar personnel posted to Jamrud checkposts blocked ice supply to Landi Kotal. He said he apprised the relevant officials of the matter but to no avail.

The trader union president said factories in Bar Qambarkhel area of Bara tehsil sold a large ice block to local wholesalers for Rs350 and to Landi Kotal wholesalers for 1,500. It is learnt that three ice factories operate in areas along Torkham border but their owners are supplying ice to dealers in Afghan province of Nangarhar.