Patna: Gas companies have begun large-scale distribution of LPG cylinders across Bihar after several districts reported a shortage of cooking gas in recent days. Around 80,000 cylinders have been dispatched to different parts of the state, a move expected to provide relief to thousands of households that had been struggling to refill their cylinders.
The largest share of the supply — about 40,000 cylinders — has been sent to Patna district. Additional cylinders are also being distributed in Ara and across Bhojpur district, where residents had reported difficulty obtaining refills due to high demand and limited stock at local agencies.
Officials at the Gidha LPG bottling plant near Ara said supply had briefly slowed due to routine weekly maintenance. Plant manager Dhiraj Kumar explained that the facility undergoes servicing every Sunday, during which cylinder filling operations are paused, leading to a temporary disruption in distribution.
However, operations resumed at full capacity on Monday, with filling work restarting at a faster pace by the evening. According to plant authorities, the facility has set a target to supply around 80,000 cylinders in a single day, which will be distributed to Bhojpur and several other districts through local gas agencies.
Plant management emphasised that there is no real shortage of LPG in the state. Instead, the recent difficulties were caused by a sudden spike in bookings and heavy crowds at distribution centres, which disrupted the delivery system and created the perception of a supply crisis.
The Gidha plant receives LPG through a pipeline connected to Haldia in West Bengal, and additional supplies also arrive from other states. From the plant, gas is filled into cylinders and dispatched to districts across the region to maintain the supply chain.
Authorities have urged consumers not to panic or place unnecessary bookings. They said cylinders should be booked only as needed, warning that excessive demand could strain the distribution network and delay deliveries for other households.
In recent days, long queues had formed outside several gas agencies in Ara and nearby districts, with some outlets reportedly running out of cylinders by midday. Many consumers were forced to return without refills, fuelling concerns about a potential shortage. Officials say the latest surge in supply should help restore normal availability in the coming days.
