SUKKUR: The Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), Sukkur, on Monday stopped supply to thousands of its consumers in the katcha area comprising Microwave Colony, Mughal Colony, Police Lines, Railway Colony, Agha Badar Din Colony, Gopang Muhalla, Brohi Muhalla etc in a drive against defaulters.

The affected consumers faced immense hardship due to a sudden outage as the supply remained off in the morning and was not restored till dusk.

People were seen coming out of their houses in search of firewood and other related things to get breakfast and other meals prepared at home. Hotels, restaurants and roadside eateries also remained without business for want of gas.

Crowds of people approached the media to register their protest over gas outage without a prior notice, saying their routine life was badly disturbed by the unjustifiable act of the SSGC. They said they were paying gas bills regularly but the SSGC on the pretext of recovery of outstanding dues.

Meanwhile, Sukkur regional manager of the utility Abdul Aziz Abro told reporters that an operation had been launched against defaulters and those using illegal gas connections in the New Pind and its surrounding katcha areas.