KATHMANDU: A severe shortage of cooking gas has disproportionately affected students and daily wage workers in Kathmandu.
Consumers who own only a single cylinder are struggling to secure refills, leaving them without a reliable means to prepare meals.
Kamal Shahi, a student at Shankar Dev Campus living in Anamnagar, has not been able to cook at home for a month. Since his cylinder ran out in August, he has been relying on restaurants, but he reported that even those businesses are now facing shortages.
Shahi noted that despite assurances that cylinders could be exchanged for any brand, he found no supply available at the Salt Trading Corporation in Kalimati.
The Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection has reported a significant increase in complaints regarding gas shortages.
According to Arjun Khadka, a grievance officer at the department, the majority of those affected are students, daily wage laborers, the elderly, people with disabilities, and those with chronic illnesses. While the department has urged the Nepal Oil Corporation and gas industries to prioritize these vulnerable groups, officials admit that the response has been minimal.
Department Director Anil Kirati stated that while ministerial-level efforts are underway to address the crisis, disruptions in the supply chain have severely impacted the balance between supply and demand.
Sudeep Ghimire, secretary of the Nepal LP Gas Industry Association, attributed the current difficulties to infrastructure damage caused by floods in the Bhotekoshi region, which blocked major highways leading to the capital.
Industry representatives claim they are attempting to prioritize vulnerable consumers, but the supply remains constrained.
