Gas crisis worsens as supply vanishes even during scheduled hours

HYDERABAD: Gas shortages in Hyderabad have intensified, with residents saying Sui Southern Gas Company is not supplying gas even during the nine hours it has allocated each day, worsening difficulties for households during the peak summer season.

Under the current SSGC schedule, gas is meant to be available for three hours in the morning from 6am to 9am, three hours in the afternoon from 12pm to 3pm, and three hours at night from 6pm to 9pm. But people living in densely populated and low-income neighbourhoods across the city say the company is failing to maintain even this reduced timetable. In places where supply does return, consumers say pressure is often so low that cooking becomes extremely difficult.

Residents said a recurring problem is that when supply resumes at the announced time, pipelines release only air for 15 to 20 minutes before gas starts flowing. Women said they are repeatedly turning on stoves to check whether gas has arrived and are leaving burners open to let the air pass, a practice they say keeps meters running and pushes up monthly bills.

"We are paying for air in our gas bills while spending hours in the kitchen to cook a single meal," a resident of Latifabad said.

The shortage has become more difficult to manage because of the intense heat currently affecting Hyderabad. Women said low pressure has lengthened cooking times, meaning even simple items such as tea or curry now take much longer to prepare. They said this is forcing them to spend extended periods in hot kitchens and has also made it harder for families to serve food on time when guests arrive.

Shift to alternative fuels

The prolonged disruption has also driven up demand for substitute cooking options. According to market sources, sales have risen for electric stoves, induction cooktops, ceramic cookers, solar ovens and domestic LPG cylinders ranging from 2kg to 12kg. Fiberglass LPG cylinders are also becoming more popular because they are lighter and do not rust.

However, the move to alternatives has created further financial pressure for consumers. Residents are facing regular SSGC charges while also spending thousands of rupees to buy cylinders, followed by at least Rs2,500 a month on LPG refills.

Political response questioned

The shortages have triggered protests, but residents say elected representatives from Hyderabad have not effectively raised the matter with SSGC. They also pointed to earlier assurances from political leaders that there would be no load-shedding between 6am and 9am, saying those promises were not fulfilled.

"We were told mornings would be free of outages, yet we get nothing but air," another consumer said.

Residents are now demanding that SSGC either restore normal gas supply or adjust billing so consumers are not charged for periods when only air is passing through pipelines.