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Despite regular deliveries of liquefied petroleum (LP) gas and other petroleum products from Nepalgunj and Surkhet, a shortage of cooking gas has hit Gamgadhi, district headquarters of Mugu and nearby market areas.

Consumers said that they have been facing difficulties as gas distributors and retailers have failed to ensure a regular supply.

Sarita Pariyar, a businesswoman from Chhayanath Rara Municipality-2, said she has been forced to eat at her neighbour's home for the past four days because she has been unable to buy cooking gas.

“There is no gas available in the market. I have not been able to cook at home for the past four days and no one knows when supplies will resume," she said. She accused traders of creating an artificial shortage and criticised the concerned authorities for failing to intervene in time.

Krishna Shahi, a Grade 9 student at Shree Mahakali Model Secondary School in Gamgadhi, said he had decided to return to his village in Soru Rural Municipality-2 for a few days as the gas shortage had made it difficult to stay in the district headquarters.

Banchu Rawat, owner of Kamana Store, said the shortage followed the government's decision to introduce half-filled gas cylinders, which discouraged transporters from bringing supplies from Nepalgunj and Surkhet.

She said she had been informed that the supply of full cylinders would resume soon, after which the market was expected to return to normal.

Chief District Officer Khadananda Khatri said the District Administration Office had not received any formal complaint about an artificial shortage, so no market inspection had been carried out so far.

He said officials would immediately inspect the market to verify gas stocks held by retailers, assess the distribution system and collect relevant records. Necessary action would also be taken if any artificial shortage was found.

Consumers said most gas retailers had been turning customers away, claiming that stocks had run out. Bhim Bohara of Chhayanath Rara Municipality-13 said he had returned empty-handed for the past four days despite visiting the shop from where he usually bought gas.

Consumers have called for a thorough investigation into the cause of the shortage, including inspections of gas availability, storage, distribution and the supply chain at the industry, wholesale and retail levels to ensure effective market regulation.

By Hari Krishna Aidi