cuttack: A severe shortage of domestic LPG cylinders has gripped Cuttack, leaving households in distress. Residents who previously received refills within three to four days are now waiting over two weeks, with no delivery in sight. This crisis, which initially hit HP Gas customers a month ago, has now spread to Indane Gas users as well.
The Scale of the Crisis
Cuttack city’s gas distribution is dominated by three main providers:
HP Gas: Holds 45% of the market with 15 agencies.
Indane Gas: Holds 40% of the market with 11 agencies.
Bharat Gas: Covers the remainder with 4 agencies.
Why is there a delay?
The trouble began three months ago with HP Gas due to technical glitches at their refilling plant. Supply was further choked when the company started a sudden audit, causing delivery timelines to stretch to 12 days. Currently, the situation is critical; some agencies have a backlog of 10,000 to 12,000 undelivered bookings.
While agencies previously received a truckload of cylinders daily, they are now receiving only one truck every three days.
Impact on Consumers
Desperation at Godowns: With delivery boys switching off their phones to avoid angry calls, frustrated customers are lining up at warehouses and protesting at agency offices.
Wedding Season Stress: High seasonal demand has made the shortage feel even more acute for households.
Indane Joins the Slump: Over the last week, Indane customers have also reported week-long delays, forcing them to collect cylinders directly from godowns.
Official Stance vs. Reality
Despite the visible chaos, the District Supply Officer, K. Chandrasekhar Patra, has refused to acknowledge a shortage, claiming that “everything is fine” and consumers are not facing significant issues. However, gas agency owners have contradicted this, warning that the supply crunch is likely to persist for several more days.
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