Road Blockade in Sundargarh Over LPG Shortage; Residents Protest Near Gas Depot

Protest Erupts Over Non-Availability of LPG Cylinders
A major protest broke out in Sundargarh as residents blocked the road near an Indane gas godown on the town bypass, alleging non-availability of cooking gas for the past four days.

Angry consumers placed LPG cylinders on the road and staged a blockade, demanding immediate supply.

Highway Blocked, Traffic Disrupted
The agitation led to the blockade of State Highway No. 10, resulting in hundreds of vehicles getting stranded on both sides. Protesters warned that they would not lift the blockade until gas supply resumes.

Police reached the spot and attempted to clear one side of the road, but protesters again placed cylinders and continued their demonstration.

Residents Forced to Queue from Early Morning
Locals claimed they had been arriving at the gas depot as early as 4 AM or 5 AM every day, only to return empty-handed. The ongoing shortage has severely affected daily life, with many households reportedly unable to cook due to lack of LPG.

Government Dismisses Rumours on New LPG Rules
Amid the unrest, the government has dismissed social media claims about new LPG booking rules as false. Officials clarified that no new restrictions have been imposed for consumers, including beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.

The existing rules remain unchanged:

• 25 days gap for booking in urban areas
• 45 days gap for rural and remote areas

Booking requests made before the stipulated time are automatically rejected by the system.

Global Factors Behind Supply Concerns
Authorities acknowledged that global tensions, particularly the Iran-Israel conflict and instability in the Strait of Hormuz, have caused some disruptions in oil and gas supply chains.

However, the government assured that there is no shortage of LPG in the country and sufficient stock is available for domestic consumption.

Government Assures Normal Supply Soon
Officials stated that the situation is being closely monitored and necessary steps are being taken to ensure uninterrupted LPG supply. Citizens have been urged not to panic or believe in misinformation circulating on social media.