Panic over LPG cylinders in Old Delhi as word spread fast that cooking gas was running out, and suddenly, gas agencies were swamped with anxious residents hoping to snag an LPG refill before supplies disappeared. Lines wrapped around street corners, tempers flared, and police showed up just to keep the peace, and most folks were worried they’d run out of gas for cooking dinner, so they joined the crowds, not wanting to get left behind.

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Why Did Long Queues Form Outside LPG Agencies in Old Delhi?

• Panic buying by residents: There has been panic buying by residents due to the fear of a possible scarcity of gas for cooking.
• Crowd management concerns: Due to the increasing crowds at gas agencies, there were concerns about maintaining law and order due to the growing tensions between customers waiting in long queues for hours.
• Rumours of supply disruptions: There were concerns among the residents due to the growing tensions caused by the rumour of scarcity due to global fuel supply concerns and disruptions in the LPG supply chain.
• Dependence on LPG for cooking: With over 31 crore LPG connections across India under various government initiatives like Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, gas has become the main source of cooking for the masses.

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What Factors Are Driving the LPG Demand Surge Across India?

• Geopolitical tensions and their effect on fuel supplies: The geopolitical tensions in West Asia due to international conflicts in the region have led people in certain cities in India to book their LPG supplies in advance, unlike in previous years.
• Increase in panic bookings: The LPG bookings in certain parts of the country have increased manifold, and the number of pending supplies rose to 1.7 lakhs, as opposed to the normal 67,000 daily bookings.
• Control on dispatches to prevent hoarding: The oil marketing companies are controlling the dispatches of LPG supplies in the form of daily quotas to prevent black marketing.
• Delays in deliveries and booking systems: The technical problems in the LPG booking system and the increased demand have led to delays in LPG supplies, and the waiting period for immediate supplies is now three to four days.

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What Actions Are Authorities Taking to Address This Issue?

The authorities are working to manage crowds and provide assurances to the public regarding the availability of fuel. According to experts, there is still a healthy supply chain for LPG in India that is supported by three large public sector companies (Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum), which collectively have millions of domestic customers across the country.

The government has been stressing the point that a sudden increased demand for LPG due to panic purchasing, rather than a legitimate shortage of supply, is the cause of many temporary disruption issues. As the authorities are attempting to ensure that supply levels return to normal and to provide the community with some peace of mind, the panic over LPG cylinders in Old Delhi is a clear example of how quickly both misinformation and a spike in demand will affect and put immense pressure on the provision of essential urban services in an area.

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