Noida LPG Crisis: Families Sleep on Pavements as Supply Chains Falter
In a stark scene unfolding across Noida and Ghaziabad, the pavement outside a gas agency in Sector 4 transformed into a makeshift waiting arena late Friday night. Empty LPG cylinders stood in orderly lines like silent sentinels, while bedsheets and newspapers spread across the concrete served as temporary bedding for weary residents. Others simply leaned against their cylinders, bracing for a long night ahead. Families, some with young children, slept outside the agency overnight, clinging to the hope that their place in the queue would secure a much-needed refill when delivery trucks arrived in the morning.
Desperate Measures for Daily Cooking
"We heard cylinders were being given on a first-come, first-served basis," explained Ajeet Singh, a resident of Harola who had camped outside the agency. "So I came at night hoping I could get one in the morning." By 10 a.m. on Saturday, similar long lines had stretched outside another gas agency in Harola, with residents enduring the scorching sun. Sumit, a resident of JJ Colony in Sector 9, waved his booking booklet to show the date of his last refill—February 10—and recounted booking another on March 11. When no delivery arrived after several days, he joined the queue at 9 p.m. on Friday, waiting until morning but still leaving empty-handed.
Across parts of Noida and Ghaziabad, queues outside gas agencies have grown longer over the past week, driven by disruptions in global LPG supply chains triggered by the ongoing war in West Asia. This has left gas agencies low on stocks, though officials maintain there is no formal shortage. For many households dependent on LPG cylinders for daily cooking, the wait has become a frustrating routine. Some residents report returning to gas agencies daily for over a week without success.
Personal Struggles and Administrative Response
Jamuna, a 36-year-old resident of Barola, booked a refill well in advance but has yet to receive it. "For the last week, I have been coming to the gas agency every day," she said. "They told me the cylinder would be delivered to my home, but for the last three days I have not seen a single delivery vehicle." With no cooking gas left, her family has resorted to eating puffed rice, jaggery, and fruits, highlighting the dire impact on daily nutrition.
The growing crowds have prompted the administration to deploy Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel at select gas agencies to manage queues and maintain order. Smriti Gautam, the district supply officer in Noida, confirmed that local police have been instructed to assist agencies as needed. Additionally, officials have intensified inspections to curb hoarding or black marketing of LPG cylinders.
Crackdown on Hoarding and Black Marketing
During a surprise raid on Saturday, supply department officials seized six LPG cylinders from a stove shop in Ghaziabad. Acting on a tip-off, a team led by SDM Arun Kumar Dixit and district supply officer Amit Kumar Tiwari inspected Sattar Stove in the Maliwara area. They discovered three domestic cylinders of 14.2 kg each and three smaller, unauthorized cylinders of 3 kg, with four filled and two empty. The cylinders were seized, and the shop owner, identified as Sadab, was questioned.
Sadab denied hoarding, claiming the cylinders were for demonstration purposes to show customers how stoves worked. Authorities are examining this explanation, with further action pending the inquiry outcome; no case has been registered so far. Inspection teams also visited several gas agencies in the district, including Kamla Bharat Gas in Nehru Nagar, Khwaja Nawaz Sharif Gas at Crossings Republik, and Mukul Bharat Gas in Khoda. Tiwari noted that supply at these outlets appeared normal, and customers reported resolved server issues affecting bookings, with deliveries now occurring post-booking.
Legal Warnings and Official Assurances
Authorities have issued stern warnings that hoarding or black marketing of domestic LPG cylinders will attract strict penalties under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. This Act empowers the government to regulate the supply and distribution of essential commodities to ensure availability at fair prices. Violations, including hoarding or overpricing, can lead to prison terms ranging from three months to seven years, along with fines.
Despite the visible queues, the district administration insists there is no shortage of LPG cylinders in Ghaziabad. Officials urge residents to place bookings online for home delivery and avoid crowding outside agencies. A control room has been established to handle complaints, aiming to streamline the process and alleviate public distress.
This crisis underscores the broader impact of global conflicts on local supply chains, forcing communities into desperate measures for basic necessities. As residents continue their vigil, the administration's efforts to balance supply management with law enforcement will be crucial in restoring normalcy.
