LPG delivery agents face public wrath

Patna: With domestic LPG cylinders supplies getting delayed across the city, delivery agents are facing brunt of public anger, threats and even assaults—forcing them to change delivery methods, further slowing an already strained distribution system.

Mukesh Kumar, a delivery agent attached to a gas agency in the Kadamkuan area and assigned to Bakarganj area, said he was forced to hide his cart to avoid being mobbed. “I have hidden my cart behind B N College and from there I am carrying cylinders on my shoulder one-by-one. I cannot take the cart inside residential areas as people rush towards it and force us to give them cylinders. Earlier this week, they gheraoed and abused me for not giving them cylinders,” he said.




Mukesh said some people were even offering bribes of up to Rs2,000 for immediate delivery, but agents were under strict instructions to supply cylinders only to households whose slips had been issued by the agency. “People are offering us bribes, but we do not want to lose our jobs. We have clear instructions to deliver cylinders only to the houses for which slips have been issued,” he said.

He added that a fellow delivery worker in the Agamkuan area was beaten up a day earlier and suffered serious injuries. “Are we the culprits? We are poor people. Our work has become far more tedious. Imagine carrying 10 to 15 cylinders on our shoulders over long distances. Earlier we used to finish work by noon; now it continues till evening,” he said.

Pankaj Kumar, a delivery agent linked to an LPG agency in Ashiana Nagar, said he had switched from handcarts to a motorcycle from Tuesday due to safety concerns. “People stop us when they see cylinders on carts and pressure us to hand them over, even threatening us. In my 16-year career, I have never seen such a situation,” he said.

Ramesh Kumar, who delivers cylinders in the Bhanwar Pokhar area, said the atmosphere remained tense and workers were uncertain how long the crisis would continue.

Consumers, meanwhile, continued to chase delivery workers in the hope of securing a cylinder. Ashok, a television mechanic, said he spent the entire morning trying to get one. “I went to the agency in the morning and there was a long queue. I was told to update my KYC to get the cylinder. I am requesting delivery agents to help me with at least one cylinder, but no one is helping,” he said.