KATHMANDU: Kathmandu Valley has witnessed a shortage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders after consumers started hoarding cylinders over a fear of a possible outbreak of COVID-19.
For the past few days, people can be seen queuing at depots to purchase cooking gas cylinders.
According to the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), people of medium and high classes have hoarded up to 10 cylinders creating an artificial shortage in the market.
Low-income consumers have been mostly hit by the tendency.
The state-owned fuel monopoly has been requesting the customers not to be swayed by the rumors that there is a shortage of cooking gas cylinders.
NOC has said that 45,000 metric tons LGP is being imported from this month to meet the increased demand.
It has urged the customers not to pay more for the cooking gas than the determined price.
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