Lucknow: A severe shortage of cooking gas cylinders in Uttar Pradesh has claimed a life in Rampur and sparked widespread distress among consumers, with long queues, protests and growing anxiety among families preparing for weddings.
In Rampur’s Milak tehsil, a 55-year-old farmer, Virendra Kumar from Manoona village, died after collapsing while waiting in a queue for a gas cylinder. He had reached Ras Dandiya village to collect a cylinder and had been standing in line for nearly two hours when his condition suddenly deteriorated.
He was rushed to a Community Health Centre by ambulance, where doctors declared him dead.
The deceased is survived by his wife Shanti Devi, two sons and a daughter. His son Bhanu alleged that there were no basic facilities for the elderly or differently abled persons, including seating or priority access. He said standing for hours in the harsh sun led to the tragedy. Police have sent the body for postmortem.
The incident comes amid a deepening gas supply crisis in the region, forcing consumers to stand in long queues for hours. Villagers have demanded that the administration improve the supply system and create separate arrangements for elderly and differently abled people.
The shortage has also cast a shadow over the ongoing wedding season in April, which has several auspicious dates. Families say they are more worried about arranging gas cylinders than conducting ceremonies.
A typical wedding requires five to ten cylinders, but many families are struggling to secure even one or two. People are borrowing gas connection details from relatives and neighbours, booking cylinders online and spending hours in queues to manage supplies.
Despite completing most wedding preparations, families say the lack of LPG cylinders has become a major concern, especially for arranging food for guests. Caterers and cooks are now asking about cylinder availability before taking up assignments, with many agreeing to work only if the family arranges the gas.
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Kasim Sheikh, whose two sisters are getting married on April 9, said all preparations are complete but cylinders are not available. He said it will become a major problem if cylinders are not arranged before the wedding. Saeed, whose daughter is getting married on April 4, said arranging cylinders has become extremely difficult. Vicky, preparing for his sister’s wedding on April 15, said he is focused on arranging cylinders first but has not succeeded so far. Lalaji Komal, whose daughter is set to marry on April 21, echoed similar concerns.
The crisis is not limited to Rampur. In Lucknow’s Jankipuram Vistar area, chaos erupted in Nauwa Kheda village as desperate consumers queued up overnight for cylinders.
Residents said they have been lining up with empty cylinders from midnight, spending nights in open fields with mats and mosquito nets, yet many return empty-handed. Supplies are made through Baba Vishwanath Gas Agency on 60 Feet Road, but the situation escalated when a delivery vehicle arrived with only 70 cylinders for over 200 people waiting in line.
Angry residents refused to allow distribution, insisting that either everyone should get cylinders or none. Police were called to the spot around 10:35 am as tensions rose. Distribution was later carried out in the presence of police for those at the front of the queue, while others were asked to return the next day.
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Consumers narrated their ordeal. Rameshwar Prasad from Dubagga said he had been waiting in line for three days, spending nights in the open before finally getting a cylinder. Sultan said he had been queuing up from midnight for three days but still returned empty-handed. Shripal said he joined the line at 2 am but his turn did not come as stock was limited.
Amid the crisis, some people are exploiting the situation. Residents alleged that individuals are charging up to Rs 100 to hold places in queues or guard cylinders overnight, forcing desperate consumers to pay to secure their turn.
With demand surging and supply struggling to keep pace, the shortage is now affecting daily life as well as major social events, prompting calls for urgent administrative intervention.
