Consumers lock agency over LPG shortage in Beed

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Agitated consumers on Wednesday locked an LPG agency in Beed, protesting a shortage in gas cylinder supply and not receiving refills despite booking online and making advance payments."I booked an LPG cylinder on May 5, and the agency manager assured delivery by Tuesday. But now the staff have asked us to come back after three days," a consumer said.Echoing similar concerns, a woman said she had to spend Rs 300 on an autorickshaw just to visit the agency. "We are incurring extra expenses on repeated visits with no results. Frustrated with the agency's functioning, we decided to lock it," she said.Another customer said he was initially promised delivery on May 9 but was later asked to wait till May 26. "While others were assured refills by May 16, I have been told to wait even longer," he said.Responding to the situation, Beed district supply officer Shivkumar Swamy said panic buying had led to temporary disruptions at some agencies. "We have sent a team to the affected outlet and instructed the management to streamline supply," he said.Swamy said the district had adequate LPG stocks for domestic and commercial use, urging consumers not to resort to panic buying.