Lucknow: A worsening shortage of LPG cylinders in Uttar Pradesh has led to a tragic death in Rampur and mounting chaos in several districts, as long queues, inadequate supply and rising demand during the wedding season push residents to the brink.
In Milak tehsil of Rampur, 55-year-old farmer Virendra Kumar died after collapsing while waiting in line for a gas cylinder. A resident of Manoona village, he had gone to Ras Dandiya village to collect a cylinder and had been standing in the queue for nearly two hours when he suddenly fell unconscious.
He was taken by ambulance to a Community Health Centre, where doctors declared him dead.
Kumar is survived by his wife Shanti Devi, two sons and a daughter. His son Bhanu alleged that there were no basic arrangements for elderly or differently abled persons, such as seating or priority access. He said prolonged exposure to intense heat while standing in the queue led to his father’s death. Police have sent the body for postmortem.
The incident has highlighted the severity of the gas supply crisis in the region, where consumers are being forced to stand in long queues for hours. Villagers have urged the administration to streamline supply and introduce separate facilities for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.