Riot-hit Birgunj reels under acute shortage of cooking gas

BIRGUNJ: The bordering city of Birgunj, which has witnessed an indefinite shutdown since August 15 and imposition of curfew following violent demonstrations since August 31, is reeling under an acute shortage of LPG.

Curfew was relaxed for a few hours yesterday and today to let the residents make arrangements for daily commodities. But they could not buy daily cooking gas in the market.

Gas dealers and consumers complained that the administration has been indifferent towards their concerns.

Though local administration has been providing security to the vehicles supplying goods and petroleum products to the Capital, it has failed to ensure smooth supply of daily commodities and LPG in Parsa district and its headquarters, Birgunj.

According to some people, they have been consuming chiura – rice flakes – and water only as they ran out of LPG to cook food.

People are seen rushing to the gas dealers carrying cylinders and queuing up there as soon as curfew is relaxed in Birgunj. But they are compelled to return home emptyhanded.

On the other hand, some dealers have taken advantage of the shortage and are said to be selling LPG in blackmarkets. Consumers complained that the administration is neither regulating the market nor trying to make the supply smooth.