Ludhiana Villages Grapple with LPG Cylinder Shortage Amid Middle East Tensions
The ripple effects of escalating tensions in the Middle East have now reached the rural heartlands of Ludhiana district, where residents are facing significant disruptions in LPG cylinder supply. Dealers in Khanna and Jagraon report substantial backlogs, leaving many households struggling to secure cooking fuel.
Residents Forced to Adapt as Deliveries Stall
Mohinder Kaur from Bhammadi village exemplifies the growing crisis. With her family's LPG cylinder exhausted, she booked a replacement five to six days ago but remains waiting. In the interim, they have resorted to using a traditional "chullah" for cooking, highlighting the daily inconveniences faced by many.
Similar stories emerge from Jagraon, where Manjeet Singh, a resident of a nearby village, described futile attempts to contact delivery executives. He expressed concern over panic booking exacerbating the shortage, urging others to avoid stockpiling. Chamkaur Singh of Chakkar village, who booked before the crisis, now fears worsening delays if the situation persists, noting the absence of usual delivery vehicles in his area.
System Failures and Panic Buying Compound Issues
In Machhiwara, Shiv Kumar of Jharaudi village encountered system outages when trying to book a cylinder, a problem confirmed by gas agency owners. Ravjyot Singh, an owner in Khanna, disclosed a backlog of 1,113 cylinders, with supplies typically arriving every other day now disrupted. He received a truckload of 360 cylinders on March 10, distributed immediately, but awaits fresh batches amid the crisis.
Simranjeet Singh, another Khanna agency owner, reported a domestic backlog of 1,200 to 1,300 cylinders, with commercial supply halted a week ago. He noted that fear-driven bookings from those with remaining gas are worsening the shortage, compounded by inadequate supply and system malfunctions. Daily deliveries vary between 306 and 360 cylinders, depending on vehicle capacity.
Agency Responses and Official Interventions
Rajeshinder Sidhu from Jagraon manages a backlog of 600 to 700 cylinders, delivering 300 to 350 daily. He observed that bookings, which usually decline in March due to warmer weather, have surged this year due to panic. Server issues occasionally stall bookings, with deliveries prioritized for customers with completed KYC.
Tejinder Singh and Gagandeep Singh, managers in Machhiwara, advised against panic, assuring that supply continues but delivery and bookings are temporarily halted by system outages expected to resolve soon. Narinder Singh, a Jagraon agency owner, clarified that while no cylinder shortage exists, a rush from unregistered customers has caused delays.
Authorities Take Action Against Malpractices
DSP Samrala Tarlochan Singh held a meeting with gas agency managers in Machhiwara on Thursday, instructing them to minimize public inconvenience during deliveries. He issued a stern warning against black marketing and hoarding, emphasizing zero tolerance for such practices to ensure fair distribution amid the crisis.
