In Shorts

• Long queues appeared outside LPG agencies in several districts of Bihar.
• Officials say there is no shortage of cooking gas and urge citizens not to panic.
• Authorities have ordered strict action against hoarding and black marketing of LPG cylinders.

Residents in several districts of Bihar were seen forming long queues outside LPG gas agencies, raising concerns about the availability of cooking gas in the state. The sudden rush at distribution centers has created anxiety among consumers who fear a potential shortage of domestic LPG cylinders.

Despite the scenes of crowding at gas agencies, state officials have reassured the public that there is no shortage of cooking fuel. The administration has emphasized that distributors currently have adequate LPG stock and that the supply chain remains functional. Authorities believe the rush is largely driven by public anxiety and rumors circulating about a possible shortage.

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary stated that both the central and state governments are closely monitoring the situation and taking steps to ensure uninterrupted supply of cooking gas to households. According to officials, systems such as missed calls, SMS, IVRS, WhatsApp booking and OTP based delivery are already in place to streamline cylinder distribution.

District administrations have also intensified oversight of LPG distributors to prevent irregularities. In Patna, the district magistrate instructed officials to take strict action against hoarding, black marketing or selling cylinders at inflated prices. Authorities warned that FIRs will be filed and arrests made if such violations are detected.

In one case, an FIR was registered after a consumer reported that a cylinder marked as “delivered” in the system had not actually reached the household. Investigations are underway to identify irregularities in distribution practices and ensure accountability.

Meanwhile, similar scenes of panic buying and long queues have been reported in several parts of India as concerns over global energy supply disruptions spread among consumers. Experts say geopolitical tensions affecting energy routes have contributed to uncertainty, prompting people to rush to refill cylinders even where supply remains stable.

Officials have urged citizens not to panic or hoard LPG cylinders, stating that unnecessary stockpiling could disrupt the supply chain and create artificial shortages. Authorities say they are continuously monitoring the situation and will act quickly if any disruption in supply is detected.

For now, the government maintains that the availability of domestic cooking gas remains sufficient and that the long queues are primarily a result of public concern rather than an actual shortage.