Blind, disabled people protest LPG shortage

Trichy: More than 100 residents of a private welfare home for visually impaired held a protest at Trichy district collectorate on Friday, highlighting an acute shortage of cooking gas cylinders that has disrupted daily life at the facility.The protestors, including blind people, elderly inmates and underprivileged children, gathered with empty LPG cylinders and submitted petitions seeking immediate intervention. They said they had been facing severe hardship for the past nine days due to non-supply of cooking gas and kerosene. Despite lodging complaints with officials and contacting the helpline, no action had been taken so far. They said they will have to stop cooking meals if supply wasn't restored urgently. In a separate plea, residents requested reinstatement of a speed breaker removed during the recent road relaying works near their premises, citing safety concerns for disabled inmates. After district differently-abled welfare officer R Ravichandran and social welfare department officials held talks with protestors and assured that steps would be taken to restore LPG supply, the protestors dispersed.