Er.energyNP@Gmail.com

Continuous rainfall has left 105 cooking gas bullets stranded on their way to the Kathmandu Valley. The supply vehicles, which entered from India, have been halted since Wednesday due to road obstructions caused by the downpour.

Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) spokesperson Manoj Kumar Thakur stated that the bullets are prepared to enter the Valley as soon as the roads are cleared. The stranded shipment contains approximately 150,000 cylinders worth of gas. “150,000 cylinders worth of gas is currently stuck on the road. Once the route opens, they will move immediately, which will help reduce the gas shortage in the Valley,” Thakur said. He added that there are no issues with importing gas from India, with shipments already reaching areas near Chitwan and Hetauda after being loaded at Barauni, Paradip, and Haldia.

The NOC noted that the bullets are currently stationed in safe locations, including Ramnagar in Chitwan and Hetauda, under the coordination of district administration offices. Transportation is expected to resume once landslides at Krishna Bhir and other locations in Dhading are cleared. Each gas bullet carries between 18 and 20 tonnes of LPG, enough to fill approximately 1,250 cylinders. The corporation expects to distribute 50,000 to 60,000 cylinders daily once supplies resume.

Meanwhile, data from the Department of Customs shows that 117,168 metric tonnes of LPG were imported in the first two months of the current fiscal year 2082/83. This is an increase of 26,000 metric tonnes compared to the same period last year, when 91,963 metric tonnes were imported at a value of Rs 9.43 billion. For the current fiscal year, the import value for the same period stands at Rs 16.26 billion.