Lucknow: Concerns over LPG availability have gripped several districts of Uttar Pradesh as people continue to face difficulties in getting gas cylinders even after booking. Long queues outside gas agencies have been reported for the sixth consecutive day, triggering protests and unrest in some areas.

Chaos Outside Gas Agencies

In Kanpur, tensions flared on Sunday morning when residents gathered outside a gas agency only to find a notice stating that “Gas will not be available today.” The announcement angered people who had been waiting for hours. The crowd created a ruckus outside the agency around 9 a.m., prompting police to rush to the spot and pacify the protesters.

Similar scenes were witnessed in Gonda, where a queue stretching nearly 200 metres formed outside Jyoti Gas Agency as residents waited for cylinders amid uncertainty over supply.

Administration Conducts Raid in Lucknow

Amid the ongoing crisis, the district administration and the supply department conducted a late-night raid at Abhinandan Resort in Lucknow on Saturday. Officials recovered 88 LPG cylinders from the premises.

Following the seizure, an FIR was registered against five people, including the resort owner, for alleged illegal storage of cylinders.

Political Protest in Gonda

The LPG issue also sparked political reactions. Samajwadi Party leader Vinod Shukla staged a protest in Gonda by throwing a gas cylinder and pipe into a drain.

Criticising the situation, Shukla said, “Guests have come to my house. Now we will make tea using the drain gas,” highlighting the frustration among residents struggling to get cooking gas.

Family Dispute Reaches Police in Mainpuri

The shortage even triggered a domestic dispute in Mainpuri. On March 14, a woman approached the police station after an argument with her mother-in-law over gas usage.

The woman told police that her mother-in-law was asking her to use less gas and cook on a traditional stove, citing a shortage. She claimed she had seen on television that there was no shortage of LPG and alleged that the restriction was being used to harass her.

Police officials said the mother-in-law was called to the station and the issue was resolved through counseling.

Authorities have not yet issued an official clarification on the reported supply issues, while residents in several districts continue to struggle with delayed LPG deliveries.