LPG rush despite no shortage claims

Prayagraj: Despite assurances by distributors and administration that there was no dearth of domestic LPG cylinders, consumers continued to flock to agencies across the city since early hours without waiting for home delivery.Queues were reported from multiple localities, with desperate customers lining up as early as possible to get LPG refill cylinders after not getting deliveries on the second or third day of booking as happened earlier. Owner of an agency at Mutthiganj said, "We have been assuring customers for home delivery but they are adamant to get cylinders refilled at agency itself. The situation has been turning from bad to worse and once we had to call police to control the crowd." At an agency in the old city, consumers even damaged the windowpanes of the shop after exchanging heated arguments with owners recently. Owner of another agency at Stanley Road said: "There was no LPG crisis, but consumers are physically visiting the gas agency offices with challan and arguing to deliver domestic cylinders immediately." The situation also forced some distributors to take corrective measures and depute private security guards for safety. They urged local administration to take effective measures to ease the situation. Distributors demanded oil marketing companies to speed up delivery measures to cover the backlog. An anxious resident Abhinav said: "I was unable to get a cylinder for the past one week. I only have a single cylinder, which is empty. Now, during our festive season, how are we going to cook food for our family? Many are also frustrated as agency managements are not saying anything concrete about delivery." tnn