Patna's LPG Shortage Eases After Prolonged Crisis
Patna has been grappling with a severe LPG crisis for over 10 days, a situation exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Gas agency owners report that the crisis was intensified by multiple household members holding separate subscriptions, leading to increased demand.
Surge in Demand and Hoarding Issues
Many individuals who had not refilled cylinders for years suddenly became active, booking and hoarding cylinders in anticipation of shortages. This spike in demand coincided with festivals such as Chaiti Chhath, Navaratra, and Eid, further straining the supply chain. A gas agency owner from Kankarbagh, speaking anonymously, revealed that at the peak of the crisis, daily bookings skyrocketed to nearly four times the usual rate, with over 1,000 bookings in a single day.
The limited manpower and delivery vehicles could not keep pace with this surge, creating a significant backlog and widespread panic among residents. To address this, delivery personnel worked extended hours, often until 8 PM instead of the usual 5 PM, for almost a week. This effort allowed them to deliver nearly 400 cylinders daily, exceeding normal capacity and gradually reducing the backlog.
Current Situation and Administrative Response
As of Thursday, bookings had decreased to around 300 per day, with deliveries matching at 299, indicating a return to normalcy. While small and medium-sized agencies have managed to control the situation, larger agencies continue to face backlogs and may need more time to stabilize operations.
In response to the crisis, Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit chaired a meeting to review gas cylinder distribution across the state. Food and Consumer Protection Department Secretary Abhay Singh presented data on supply status and existing backlogs. The meeting incorporated suggestions from district magistrates to mitigate delivery delays.
Administrative and police officials have been directed to monitor distribution closely, keep district control rooms operational for public grievances, and hold daily review meetings at 3 PM to update regional supply levels. Intensive raids are being conducted in bordering districts to prevent hoarding and black market sales.
Enforcement and Public Assurance
Patna DM Thiyagarajan S M and SSP Kartikeya K Sharma also convened a meeting to ensure smooth LPG supply. They ordered immediate arrests of individuals involved in black marketing, hoarding, or overpricing. Officials confirmed that 136 gas agencies serve 1,665,360 consumers, with sufficient stock available to meet demand.
The administration has warned that negligence or irregularities in the supply chain will lead to prosecution under the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA). Raid teams are coordinating with oil marketing companies to facilitate direct home deliveries and prevent crowding at agencies. The state government has advised the public to disregard unofficial reports on gas availability, asserting that the supply situation is under control.
