SWABI, Oct 25: The district and its surrounding areas have been hit by a gas shortage for the last one week, and the dealers say it will continue for two more weeks.

Giving reasons for the shortage, the dealers told Dawn on Tuesday that on the one hand the gas companies had stopped the supply, on the other the consumption had increased manifold because of the approaching winter. Moreover, he said, the gas companies had increased the price without giving any reason.

The 12kg cylinder which was selling at Rs325 about 10 days back, now cost Rs400, said a dealer. A majority of the dealers hoped that after a restoration of the supply the prices would return to normal. They said the management of the companies hoped that the supply would resume by Nov 5.