Ramechhap, July 26:

People of Ramechhap district have been facing a shortage of petroleum products for one week.

"I walked all the way to Manthali, the district headquarters, to buy kerosene. But I am forced to return home empty-handed as kerosene is not available in the market," Narayan Hari Dhungel of Phakarbas-6 said. Many people of Ramechhap cook food on kerosene stoves and use kerosene lamps to light their homes.

The district has been witnessing a shortage of petrol and diesel. Consumers said transporters have been plying their vehicles on kerosene due to the unavailability of petrol and diesel. Kerosene is being sold in black market, they said.

Bus owners said they have been forced to purchase per litre of kerosene at Rs 100. "Though I deposited money to purchase fuel at the NOC a month ago, I have not got fuel yet," proprietor of Laxmi Oil Stores in Manthali, Bishnu Khadka, said. Failure to supply petroleum products in sufficient quantity has caused fuel crisis, he added.