Syed Ali Shah:
QUETTA: As winter tightens its grip on Balochistan’s capital, Quetta residents are once again facing a deadly combination of cold weather and prolonged gas load-shedding. Frequent gas explosions, triggered by unsafe pressure fluctuations and the negligence of the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), have become a terrifying routine across the city.
Load Shedding Claims Precious Human Lives
The latest explosion occurred early Thursday morning in A-One City, Phase 2, Lane 8, when gas that had accumulated inside a home overnight ignited with a loud blast. The explosion shook nearby houses, sending shockwaves through the neighborhood and reigniting anger among residents who say the government and gas authorities have turned a blind eye to a recurring tragedy.
According to reports, gas supply is usually suspended around 10 p.m. and restored before dawn. Many residents, unaware or exhausted from power cuts, forget to close their gas valves at night. When supply resumes in the early hours, gas fills the rooms — and a single spark can turn homes into infernos.
Gas Load Shedding A Threat To Human Life
“It’s not just inconvenience anymore — it’s a threat to life,” said Abdul Karim, a resident of A-One City. “Every year people die, yet the Sui Southern Gas Company keeps repeating the same mistakes. It’s criminal negligence.”
“We are forced to live in fear,” added Naseema Bibi, another resident. “When the gas comes back early morning, we hold our breath — because you never know whose house will explode next.”
Locals say the SSGC’s silence and inaction reflect a dangerous disregard for public safety. Despite repeated explosions, injuries, and loss of life, neither the company nor the provincial authorities have issued public safety advisories, adjusted supply timings, or launched awareness campaigns.
Chilly Weather In Quetta
“They only show up after an explosion,” said Shahbaz Khan, a shopkeeper. “By then, people are already dead, and their homes are in ruins. How many more families must suffer before they act?”
In recent years, several such incidents across Quetta have claimed numerous lives, left dozens injured, and caused widespread property damage. Yet, no meaningful investigation or accountability has followed.
As temperatures continue to drop, citizens say the situation has become unbearable. The unannounced and prolonged gas load-shedding has left families struggling to cook, heat their homes, or simply survive the freezing nights.
Every winter, Quetta’s residents relive the same nightmare — gas shortages, deadly explosions, and official indifference. The city’s people say the pattern of negligence must end before it costs more lives.
Gas Is Not A Luxury
“Gas is not a luxury,” said a senior citizen in Satellite Town. “It’s a lifeline in winter. We demand the government and SSGC take immediate and serious action before more innocent people die.”
Residents have urged the Balochistan government and the Sui Southern Gas Company to immediately end night-time gas load-shedding, launch safety awareness campaigns, and hold negligent officials accountable.
Every year, as the cold returns, Quetta’s homes fill not just with the chill of winter — but with grief. Reliable gas supply, residents say, is not merely a convenience; it is a basic human necessity that the people of Balochistan are being denied.
