Shimla

LPG refill bookings in Himachal Pradesh have surged by 30–35 per cent this month compared to February, largely driven by panic buying amid concerns linked to the ongoing West Asia conflict, an official said on Wednesday.

Mohammad Amid, divisional LPG sales head at Indian Oil Corporation, said that while daily bookings in February stood at around 9,500, the number has risen sharply in March as consumers rushed to secure supplies.

Data indicates that during the first half of February, 3,86,867 LPG cylinders were delivered against 4,82,341 bookings, leaving a shortfall of 95,574. In contrast, between March 1 and 15, deliveries stood at 3,16,926, while bookings jumped to 6,45,388, widening the gap significantly to 3,28,462.

Amid maintained that there is no actual shortage of domestic LPG cylinders, adding that all 12 districts in the state are being supplied through bottling plants located in Baddi, Una, and Jalandhar.

However, he noted that commercial LPG supply is currently being rationed, with only about 20 per cent of demand being met. This is expected to improve, with plans to raise supply levels to around 40–50 per cent in the coming days.

Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi said the disruption in supply is linked to the geopolitical situation in West Asia, also attributing the situation to India’s foreign policy challenges.

He added that the impact is being felt across the hospitality sector, with several roadside eateries shutting operations and hotels and restaurants reducing their menu offerings due to limited fuel availability.

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The crunch has even led to the return of traditional cooking methods, with establishments such as the government-run Hotel Holiday Home resorting to wood-fired stoves.