QUETTA: The Quetta valley and parts of northern Balochistan were in the grip of chilly Siberian winds that brought the mercury down to minus 7 degrees Celsius here and minus 9 in Kalat on Wednesday.

Siberian winds continued lashing the valley and adjoining areas, forcing the people to stay at their homes where they also faced gas supply problems.

The roads in the city and on its outskirts wore a deserted look, while water froze in pipelines, affecting the supply.

With the drop in the temperature, gas supply to several localities in the suburbs was suspended, while the pressure dropped in main city areas, increasing the hardship of the people.

The prices of coal, wood and kerosene skyrocketed because of increased demand.

Gas supply was also badly affected in Ziarat, Pishin, Mastung, Kalat and some other areas, although officials of the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) had claimed that there would be no shortage in Quetta and other towns after connection of the Zarghoon field with the provincial capital.

“We have not been getting gas supply for several days and are facing hardship,” Muhammad Hashim Kakar, a resident of Pishin, said, adding that the same problem had been reported from Ziarat and other areas.

The situation in Khanozai, Qila Saifullah, Muslim Bagh, Toba Achakzai, Toba Kakari, Zhob and other areas of northern Balochistan was also worsening.

The warm areas, including Noshki, Dalbandin, Nokundi, Sibi and Nasirabad, were also in the grip of a cold wave.

SSGC officials said the supply from the Zarghoon field had been affected because of a technical fault in the gas plant, causing low pressure in Quetta, Mastung, Pishin, Ziarat and Kalat.

“We are making efforts to rectify the fault,” an official said and added that the Zarghoon field was supplying 18 million cubic feet per day of gas to Quetta, while 130 million cfd was being supplied from Shikarpur.

Officials of the metrological department forecast a further drop in the temperature in Quetta and northern and central Balochistan during the next 24 hours.

Published in Dawn December 11th , 2014