In Barnala, a man reportedly died after suffering a heart attack while waiting in line for a gas cylinder. According to local reports, he had been standing in the queue for nearly two hours before collapsing. The incident has intensified public anger as thousands of resident’s rush to refill cylinders amid fears of shortage.

The crisis has affected several districts including Barnala, Amritsar, Ludhiana and Chandigarh, where people were seen lining up outside agencies since early morning.

Barnala Tragedy After Long Wait in Queue

The most tragic incident was reported from Barnala, where a customer waiting to refill his LPG cylinder collapsed after a prolonged wait. Witnesses said the man had been standing in the queue for a long time amid the rush at the gas agency.

Despite attempts to rush him to hospital, he was declared dead, reportedly due to a heart attack. The incident sparked anger among local residents, many of whom blamed poor supply management and technical issues for the chaotic situation.

People waiting outside agencies said they had been standing in line for hours without clarity about whether cylinders would actually be available.

Clashes Reported at Gas Agencies in Amritsar

Tensions also erupted in Amritsar as crowds gathered outside gas agencies, leading to heated arguments and clashes between customers.

Officials said panic among consumers led to large crowds, causing disorder outside some distribution centres. Authorities had to intervene to control the situation and ensure orderly distribution of cylinders.

However, district officials have clarified that domestic LPG supply remains available and urged residents not to panic or engage in hoarding.

Cylinder Looted in Ludhiana

In Ludhiana, the situation turned more chaotic when a full LPG cylinder was reportedly snatched from a customer amid the rush outside an agency.

The incident reflects the growing frustration among people as demand for cylinders surged suddenly across the state. Some residents alleged that rumours of shortage triggered panic buying, which further worsened the situation.

Authorities have urged people to remain calm and avoid spreading misinformation regarding LPG supply.

Long Queues in Chandigarh

In Chandigarh as well, large queues were seen outside gas agencies, especially after supply reached certain locations following delays of several days.

Residents complained that they were facing difficulties in booking cylinders due to server issues on LPG company portals, which prevented OTP confirmation for bookings. As a result, people started visiting agencies physically, leading to overcrowding outside distribution centres.

Officials said that deliveries cannot be processed without confirmed online bookings, which added to the frustration among consumers.

Global Factors and Commercial Supply Restrictions

Industry sources say the situation has been aggravated by disruptions in global fuel supply chains and restrictions on commercial LPG supply. Authorities have prioritised domestic household cylinders to ensure essential cooking gas reaches homes first.

This has affected restaurants, hotels and small vendors across the state, many of whom depend on commercial cylinders for daily operations.

In several areas, eateries and food vendors have been forced to reduce cooking hours or temporarily shut operations due to lack of LPG supply.

CM Bhagwant Mann Assures No Shortage

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has addressed the situation, stating that there is no actual shortage of LPG in the state. He said the government has instructed all deputy commissioners to ensure smooth distribution and prevent black marketing.

The Chief Minister also warned of strict action against hoarding or selling cylinders illegally at inflated prices.

Authorities have appealed to residents to avoid panic buying and assured that steps are being taken to stabilise supply and improve booking systems.

Situation Being Closely Monitored

Officials from the food and civil supplies department and LPG companies are closely monitoring the situation across Punjab. Additional deliveries are expected in several districts to clear the backlog.

While the government maintains that supplies are adequate, the recent incidents highlight the pressure on distribution systems when panic spreads among consumers.

For now, authorities are urging people to remain patient and follow the official booking process while efforts continue to restore normalcy in LPG distribution across the state.