Panic Erupts in Bihar Over LPG Cylinder Shortages Amid Rumors

LPG Supply Disruption Causes Widespread Concern

Patna, March 13: A significant disruption in the supply of LPG cylinders has sparked anxiety among consumers in Patna and various districts in Bihar, impacting both households and the hospitality industry.

Residents attribute the crisis to the ongoing conflict in Iran, resulting in shortages and extensive queues at gas stations throughout the state.

The hospitality sector has been particularly affected, with reports indicating that the availability of commercial LPG cylinders has nearly ceased in numerous locations. Patna alone requires approximately 4,000 to 5,000 commercial cylinders each day, yet restaurant owners report no new supplies have arrived recently.

Consequently, many restaurants have either temporarily closed or significantly scaled back their operations.

Rohit Kumar, who owns a restaurant in Patliputra Colony, mentioned that his establishment previously offered a wide range of chicken, mutton, and biryani dishes. However, due to the lack of commercial cylinders, he has had to limit his menu primarily to biryani to conserve gas.

He stated, “We have eliminated items that require prolonged cooking, such as slow-cooked gravies and samosas. This reduction in menu options has led to fewer customers and a sharp decline in our revenue.”

A similar plight is being faced by confectionery shops and smaller eateries. The owner of Sai Sweets in Danapur reported halting the preparation of snacks like samosas, kachoris, chowmein, and chaat due to the gas shortage.

He expressed, “Currently, we are relying solely on sweet sales. If the supply does not improve in the next few days, we may have to close our shop.”

In light of increasing complaints, a domestic LPG consumer from the Digha area filed a complaint against a delivery person from M/s Utsav Gas Seva in Indrapuri, claiming that despite having booked a cylinder, the delivery never occurred, even though records indicated it had been delivered.

Following this complaint, the Patliputra Police Station registered an FIR against the delivery person, Mukesh, marking the first such FIR in the area concerning alleged LPG supply irregularities.

Patna District Magistrate Tyagarajan S. M. stated that the administration is actively monitoring the situation and has ramped up enforcement efforts to combat black marketing and hoarding.

He noted, “We have established 28 enforcement teams at the block level to conduct inspections and address consumer grievances. We will ensure that LPG consumers do not face any inconvenience. Regular inspections and raids are being conducted at gas agencies and distributor outlets.”

Residents throughout Patna district have reported significant challenges in obtaining cylinders.

Neeraj Kumar, a local resident, mentioned that repeated calls to distributors often go unanswered or consumers are informed that the booking server is down. Another resident, Rajiv Kumar Pandey, shared his experience of returning empty-handed from the Vaishali Gas Agency in Saguna Mor after being told to wait for a new supply.

Sarvoday Nath, a resident of RK Puram in Danapur, claimed that local gas agencies have not received fresh stock for the past four days.

However, officials from the Indian Oil Corporation have denied any actual shortage of LPG cylinders, attributing the situation largely to panic buying and misinformation.

The confusion has extended beyond Patna to districts such as Buxar, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Sheohar, and Bhojpur, where similar scenes of long queues and anxious consumers have been observed.

In Buxar, residents were seen waiting in long lines outside gas agencies for hours, with many leaving without cylinders.

The situation has also raised alarms at Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), where the kitchen, operated under the Jeevika initiative, prepares meals for 1,600 to 1,700 patients and staff.

In Muzaffarpur, over two dozen residents approached the District Collectorate carrying empty cylinders, demanding a meeting with the District Magistrate regarding the shortage.

In Sheohar, tensions escalated when a man reportedly threatened to commit suicide after waiting in line without receiving a cylinder, with around 400 people said to be waiting at a single agency.

Authorities maintain that there is no genuine shortage of LPG, but panic buying, rumors, and local supply disruptions have created a crisis-like atmosphere in several districts.

The state administration has urged citizens to refrain from panic buying or hoarding cylinders while continuing to take action against black marketing and distribution irregularities.