Amid LPG crisis, IOC urges public to avoid panic buying, rely on verified info

Dehradun: The ongoing LPG shortage due to the West Asia war has severely disrupted daily life in Uttarakhand, leaving over 300 LPG-run auto-rickshaws stranded because of fuel shortages. Restaurants, roadside dhabas, and food outlets across the state have either curtailed their menus or shut operations amid the supply crunch. Senior officials of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOC), a key supplier of cooking gas, acknowledged that the situation is “not normal” and is being closely monitored. Divisional retail sales head Krishna Kumar Gupta said the supply of commercial LPG has been impacted by up to 30%, affecting both transport and commercial establishments. “While allocating non-domestic LPG, priority is being given to hospitals and educational institutions over hotels, dhabas, and canteens,” Gupta said, adding, “work on piped natural gas (PNG) pipelines in the state's plains cities is being fast-tracked, with companies receiving quicker approvals to ease the crisis.” He urged consumers to avoid panic buying and rely only on official sources of information. Officials said the state has already conveyed its requirements to the Central govt in view of the anticipated surge in demand during the upcoming Char Dham Yatra. In the city gas distribution segment, five CGD companies are operating in Uttarakhand, ensuring continued supply of CNG and PNG across domestic, commercial, and industrial sectors. Gupta said that PNG expansion has accelerated, with around 3.6 lakh connections installed and over 3.9 lakh new registrations recorded since March 2026. Authorities have also intensified action against hoarding and black marketing, conducting thousands of inspections and raids, leading to multiple FIRs and arrests across the state.