Rakesh Chaurasia/ New Delhi

Four people died during a stampede to buy wheat flour in Pakistan. The country is facing a severe shortage of flour with the cost soaring to Rs 130-150 per kilogram. Authorities have had to resort to posting security personnel in shops selling the item.

On Saturday, the father of seven children died in Mirpur Khas district of Sindh province, who had gone to buy flour for his family.

The death occurred near the commissioner's office, where two mini trucks carrying 200 bags each were selling flour outside Gulistan-e-Baldia Park.

Mini trucks were selling flour bags of 10 kg each at the rate of Rs 65 per kg. People had gathered around the vehicles in a chaotic manner. They were pushing each other to grab the bags. According to the police, 40-year-old laborer Harsingh Kolhi fell on the road during the ruckus and was crushed to death by the people around.

It is not yet known what caused the stampede. Similarly, three women died in a stampede in Sakrand town of Benazirabad district. The crowd had gathered outside a flour mill, where it is being told that cheap flour was being sold.

After a record increase in the price, it is now difficult for low-income groups to buy a bag of flour in Pakistan. Citizens are now eagerly looking towards the government to remove the shortage of flour. The per kg price of flour in Pakistan's Rawalpindi and Islamabad is Rs 130-150 due to which it has become difficult for the people to buy flour.

Citizens feel that the government should do more to control inflation. The reality is that only a few people are able to get flour and other food products at subsidized rates from utility stores.

Sikander Zaman, a daily wage worker, said, "Skyrocketing inflation is literally crushing the middle-income and low-income groups, as unlike the elite, the poor people's budgets can no longer afford basic food items like flour and roti." Zaman said, "The rising prices of flour are touching a record level of Rs 130 per kg. This inflation has put it beyond the reach of lower-middle-income families, raising fears of increasing food insecurity."

Similar scenes of chaos are being witnessed in all parts of Sindh, where flour is being sold through mini trucks or vans.

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Meanwhile, Balochistan's Food Minister Zamark Achakzai also made a shocking revelation, stating that the wheat stock in the province has been completely exhausted and added that the crisis for the commodity in the province is deep.