Basti sees LPG cylinder rush amid price hike rumours; officials deny shortage

• Long queues and chaotic scenes erupted at Mahagauri Gas Agency in Basti, UP, as consumers rushed for LPG cylinders.
• The panic buying was triggered by widespread rumours of an impending price hike for cooking gas.
• District Supply Officer Vimal Kumar Shukla denied any shortage, attributing temporary issues to increased OTP-based booking (80%) and KYC verification for reactivating connections.
• Many consumers, including those preparing for weddings, queued from 4 am, leading to near-stampede conditions as they collected cylinders.
• Authorities urged the public not to believe rumours, emphasizing that there is no shortage of LPG supply in the district.