Gas cylinder shortage hits Faridkot; gurudwaras turn to firewood for langar

Amid rising concerns over the ongoing Israel-Iran tensions affecting supply chains, signs of a gas cylinder shortage have started emerging in Faridkot district. While the district administration maintains that there is no shortage of LPG, residents say they are facing difficulties booking cylinders online, leading to long queues outside gas agencies across the city.

According to officials, a total stock of about 1,990 gas cylinders was available at various agencies in the district on Friday morning. However, consumers complained that online booking services were not functioning properly, preventing them from securing cylinders despite repeated attempts.

The situation has also begun to affect religious institutions. Several gurudwaras, where langar is served daily to thousands of devotees and needy people, have started preparing food on traditional wood-fired stoves due to the limited availability of LPG cylinders.

At Gurudwara Tilla Baba Sheikh Farid, thousands of devotees visit daily and around 5,000 to 7,000 people partake in langar every day. Similarly, the Sahibzada Ajit Singh Charitable Mata Khivi Ji Langar Seva Committee serves around 2,000 people daily at the gurudwara and provides langar to nearly 10,000 patients and attendants at different hospitals across the district. The langar service previously consumed about 10 to 12 commercial gas cylinders each day.

Captain Dharam Singh, president of the Mata Khivi Ji Langar Committee, said that despite the shortage, the langar service would continue uninterrupted.

“Even if there is a shortage of gas, the langar will not stop. Patients and their attendants at hospitals depend on this service, and it will continue round the clock,” he said, adding that firewood was now being used to cook meals.

The shortage and rising prices of LPG have also begun affecting small businesses. Roadside tea stall owners and small dhaba operators said they had not received commercial cylinders for several days, forcing many to suspend operations.

A tea vendor said that his work had come to a standstill due to the unavailability of cylinders.

“It has become difficult to run the household as we have not received a cylinder for several days,” he said.

Some small eateries have switched to induction cookers or diesel-based stoves, but they say the alternatives are expensive and have forced them to increase the prices of food items, leading to fewer customers.

Meanwhile, residents said that repeated attempts to book cylinders through the online system were failing as the booking server appeared to be down.

Deputy Commissioner Poonamdeep Kaur said the administration had issued necessary instructions to ensure smooth LPG supply and prevent black marketing.

She added that food supply officials had been directed to form teams to monitor the situation, and strict action would be taken against anyone found involved in hoarding or black marketing of gas cylinders.