Team Goemkarponn
Canacona: Amid concerns triggered by the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, residents in Canacona rushed to secure cooking gas cylinders, leading to panic buying at local LPG outlets on Thursday.
Long queues were seen outside the HP Gas distributor Prabhudesai Gas Service at Chaudi early in the morning, even before the agency opened for the day. The crowd continued to grow through the day as consumers arrived to book and collect cylinders directly from the outlet.
Despite the rush at the agency, officials maintained that there is no shortage of domestic LPG cylinders and that stock supplies remain regular. On Thursday alone, the agency issued over 400 cylinders directly to customers at the outlet, in addition to around 250 cylinders delivered through four home-delivery vehicles operating across the taluka.
Agency representatives said the sudden surge in demand is largely driven by fear of a potential shortage due to the international situation, though supply to the domestic sector has remained stable.
Pratish Prabhudesai of the agency said staff had explained to customers waiting in queues that there was no need for panic purchasing, as adequate stock was available in the godown and fresh supplies continue to arrive regularly.
He noted that the government is currently prioritising domestic LPG distribution, while commercial cylinder supply has been temporarily restricted to manage demand during the global uncertainty. However, essential services such as hospitals and institutions continue to receive cylinders without disruption.
To discourage hoarding, a 25-day gap between domestic cylinder bookings is being enforced. Agency sources said some consumers attempt to book another cylinder within just a few days of receiving one, adding unnecessary pressure on distribution.
The agency has appealed to residents to avoid panic buying and rely on the regular supply and home-delivery system, assuring that domestic LPG availability in Canacona remains adequate.
