Disruption in the supply chain of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has been causing hardship to residents in the city and nearby areas for the past eight to ten days. Many consumers told that they have been waiting for more than 10 days to receive a refill.
Under normal circumstances, LPG refills are delivered within 24 to 48 hours of booking. However, the current situation has led to a sharp increase in waiting time.
While the shortage is affecting customers of all three oil marketing companies, consumers of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) are reportedly facing the worst delays. In several localities, the waiting period for HPCL refills has crossed ten days, forcing families to depend on induction cooktops or other alternatives.
Most gas agency operators have blamed the state-owned oil marketing companies for the backlog. Dealers claim the main reason is disruption at bottling plants. “We are not receiving sufficient stock to meet daily booking demands,” said a local agency owner, requesting anonymity. He added that HPCL, in particular, has failed to supply cylinders in line with rising demand.
The situation has worsened due to a sharp increase in bookings, which have reportedly risen by 20 to 30 per cent. Agency operators said panic booking has gripped the city, with many consumers placing refill requests well before their existing cylinders are empty.
“This advance booking has created an artificial surge in demand, making it difficult for households with urgent needs to get cylinders,” they said.
As the backlog continues to grow, residents have urged the district administration to intervene and coordinate with oil companies to restore normal LPG supply and delivery cycles.
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