Gas shortages disrupt Muharram observation in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: Gas load-shedding during the first 10 days of Muharram has created difficulties for residents in Hyderabad, where many households say they are struggling to prepare Nazar and Niaz because of limited supply hours and weak pressure.

According to the schedule announced by Sui Southern Gas Company, domestic consumers were to receive gas for nine hours a day during Ashra-e-Muharram, from 6am to 9am, 12pm to 3pm, and 6pm to 9pm. Residents, however, said the company had not fully maintained even that arrangement.

People in different parts of the city said the supply often begins with air passing through pipelines for several minutes before gas starts flowing. They added that pressure remains too low for normal cooking, making routine kitchen work difficult. In some cases, they said, water for tea takes nearly half an hour to boil, and by the time the pressure improves, the supply window is close to ending.

Residents said the disruption has been especially troubling during Muharram, when Nazar and Niaz are prepared and distributed across the city on a large scale, particularly between the 6th and 10th of the month. Many families cook at home according to their means, while organisers of majalis and processions depend on catering centres for food arrangements.

Some residents described repeated interruptions while cooking food for religious observances.

They said the shortages have added to hardship during intense summer heat, as people are being forced to spend more time in kitchens to complete basic cooking tasks. Residents also complained that SSGC had neither reduced outages nor restored regular supply during the Ashra.

At the same time, residents alleged that caterers and naanbais were continuing to receive uninterrupted gas with full pressure throughout the day. They said the problems facing households were pushing many people, already affected by inflation, towards catering centres for biryani and other dishes prepared for Niaz, where they claimed prices were higher than usual.