LPG booking surge triggers massive backlog in Jamshedpur

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, April 2: A sudden spike in domestic LPG bookings has disrupted supply systems across the city, with nearly 18,000 bookings recorded in a single day—almost double the usual volume.

The surge, driven largely by panic buying and fears of a possible price hike, has pushed the backlog beyond 75,000 connections, according to officials of Indian Oil Corporation.

Authorities said the current waiting period has stretched to five to seven days and may extend further if the trend continues.

Urging consumers to remain calm, officials assured that supply will be maintained under the existing system and there is no need for panic booking.

Officials attributed the sudden rise to the beginning of the month, when salaried households receive their income and prioritize essential expenses.

“Consumers prefer to book cylinders in advance to secure their kitchen needs,” an official noted.

To manage the pressure, Indian Oil has directed all distributors to keep delivery operations running throughout the week.

However, agencies are grappling with manpower shortages due to continuous workload and lack of breaks.

Several workers have reportedly quit, further affecting the supply chain.

The combined impact of increased demand and staffing constraints continues to strain the LPG distribution network, raising concerns about longer delays in the coming days.