SUKKUR, Dec 14: The Civil Hospital of Sukkur fell a major victim to gas loadshedding on Tuesday when about 10 major surgical operations had to be cancelled due to the problem.

Relatives of the patients on Tuesday's list were waiting for these operations for over a month.

A visit to the health facility showed that the hospital authorities informed relatives of the patients concerned about postponement of their operations, which disappointed them.

Doctors told them that the Sui Gas authorities had not given prior intimation about suspension of gas supply.

According to doctors, gas supply for the operation apparatus and instruments was the prerequisite, which had to be arranged in early in the morning. If there was no gas supply, the auto-cloves machine could not be sterilized and, therefore, there would be no surgical operations.

The civil hospital authorities told newsmen that they had also contacted the Sui Gas local authorities with a request to exclude the hospital from gas loadshedding, but they said that the supply was not restored till evening.

MPA Dr Nasrullah Baloch and journalists reached the civil hospital on the hue and cry of affected patients and their relatives, but they were shown the gas supply system of the hospital which was totally under suspension.

The deputy general manager of Sui Southern Gas told this reporter on telephone that there was no gas loadshedding for the civil hospital.

He, however, hinted at the possibility of low gas pressure in pipes due to declining temperature.

On the other hand, Sui Southern Gas has disconnected the gas connection of the Dar-ul-Aman of Sukkur due to non-payment of gas arrears amounting to Rs500,000, which deprived over 50 inmates of the residential facility of cooked food.

However, some local social welfare organisations have arranged meals for them.