Kolkata LPG Crisis: Online Booking System Crash Sparks Panic and Long Queues
Hundreds of LPG consumers across Kolkata encountered extensive queues and rising anxiety on Thursday as a significant crash in the online booking system severely disrupted cylinder bookings. This technical failure compelled oil marketing companies (OMCs) to implement a temporary measure, allowing manual booking through distributors to alleviate the mounting pressure on the overloaded digital infrastructure.
Unprecedented Surge Overwhelms Servers
The online platform, utilized for booking LPG cylinders via mobile applications, websites, and call centers, reportedly crashed following an unprecedented surge in bookings. This spike was triggered by widespread panic-buying and a concurrent increase in e-KYC updation requests. The sudden escalation in demand emerged amid growing concerns over fuel security, directly linked to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which has heightened public apprehension about supply stability.
In response to the escalating crisis, OMCs directed LPG distributors to commence accepting manual bookings as an interim solution to ease the strain on the faltering system. "We asked distributors to start manual booking while we work to streamline the online system through server upgrades," stated an OMC official. "This is a temporary measure to manage the current situation and not to harass consumers. Once the system is stabilised, we will return to online booking."
Consumers Face Disappointment and Delays
At an authorized Indane LPG dealership on Marquis Street, dozens of anxious consumers gathered from the early morning hours, hoping to secure cooking gas. Despite the dealer having approximately 200 cylinders in stock, distribution was impossible without official booking confirmation, which remained inaccessible due to the server outage.
Seventy-two-year-old Gadadhar Ghosh, a resident of Sukur Sarkar Lane, waited in line at the Marquis Street dealership with hopes of booking a refill but returned home disappointed after being informed that bookings could not be processed until server functionality was restored. "For the last five days, I tried to book a cylinder because the one at home may run out any moment," Ghosh lamented. "Today, I stood in line at the dealer's office but they told me no cylinder can be given without booking. Now I must wait until the server is restored."
Distributors Highlight Safety Concerns and Historical Unprecedentedness
LPG distributors attributed the chaos to an overwhelming rush of online booking attempts that likely crashed the Indian Oil Corporation's server. "There was no server connectivity since 9 am and we don't know when it will be restored," explained Asim Som, vice-president of the Indane LPG Distributors' Association and owner of the Marquis Street dealership. "The panic rush for bookings on the IOC site likely caused the crash."
The unusual situation also raised significant safety concerns for delivery staff. Som noted that many delivery workers were hesitant to transport cylinders for distribution, fearing that crowds might attempt to snatch them amid the chaos. "I have been in this business for more than three decades and never experienced such a situation," he remarked, underscoring the historical unprecedentedness of the event.
Celebrity Sightings and Widespread Reports of Disruption
The disruption even attracted well-known individuals to dealership offices. Former Iranian-Indian footballer Jamshid Nassiri was spotted at the Marquis Street office while attempting to update his address for KYC verification. "I heard that many people came here because of the server problem affecting gas booking," Nassiri said. "My purpose, however, is to change my address."
Similar scenes were reported at other LPG dealerships throughout Kolkata. At a dealer office on Suresh Sarkar Street, residents queued up from early morning but returned empty-handed as the server outage persisted. Entally resident Soumyakanti Chakraborty shared his frustration, noting that he had booked a cylinder approximately 15 days prior but still had not received delivery. "I waited in the queue until afternoon today but nothing happened," he expressed, highlighting the extended delays and consumer distress.
