Pune is witnessing a sharp rise in panic bookings of domestic LPG cylinders as tensions escalate in West Asia, prompting hundreds of consumers daily to flock to gas distribution centres to book or collect cylinders amid fears of supply disruption. While oil companies assure that domestic LPG supplies remain stable, dealers report mounting pressure on agencies due to the sudden surge.
Nitin Dangi, an LPG dealer from Bibvewadi, described the challenging situation at distribution points: “We are seeing around 500 to 600 customers every day at our centre. Earlier, many relied on WhatsApp, online systems, or phone bookings, but these options are currently unavailable, pushing all demand directly to dealership counters.
“Dealers noted a significant shift in consumer behavior, with many households placing refill requests nearly two weeks in advance instead of waiting for their cylinders to run low. This early booking trend is fueled by concerns that the West Asia conflict could disrupt global energy supply chains.Sunita Gosavi from Kothrud shared her family’s cautious approach:
“Normally, we wait until the cylinder is almost empty, but this time we booked two weeks early. Given the news about the conflict, we didn’t want to risk running out of cooking gas.”Neighbourhood groups across housing societies have seen frequent discussions about LPG availability, with residents advising one another to secure cylinders early.
Dealers compare this surge to the panic buying witnessed during the Covid-19 pandemic, when uncertainty led households to stockpile essentials.Food and civil supplies authorities have urged calm, emphasizing that LPG distribution is functioning normally and that oil marketing companies maintain sufficient stock levels.
Officials point out that rumours and global tensions are driving consumer anxiety rather than actual shortages.In Delhi, the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas reassured the public on Wednesday that panic bookings are unnecessary, noting that the standard delivery time remains 2.5 days. The ministry also highlighted a 25% increase in LPG production due to official measures to meet demand effectively.
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