Angry residents blocked traffic for nearly 15 minutes near Bhagwan Valmiki Chowk on the Phagwara–Hoshiarpur road on Friday, alleging a severe shortage of cooking gas. Eyewitnesses said the sudden blockade led to traffic disruption and caused inconvenience to commuters passing through the area.
The situation returned to normal after Phagwara Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Bharat Bhushan, along with traffic police personnel, reached the spot and convinced the protesters to clear the road.
Raising slogans against the government and accusing certain elements of black marketing LPG cylinders, several demonstrators said they had not received cooking gas supplies for the past several weeks despite repeated attempts.
Residents pointed to a nearby gas agency, alleging that consumers were being asked to book cylinders online either very early in the morning or late at night to secure delivery.
“Even after booking cylinders, we are forced to visit the agency again and again, but the gas is not being supplied,” said one agitated resident.
Protesters further alleged that influential people were getting LPG cylinders through phone calls, while ordinary consumers continued to struggle for their basic cooking fuel needs.
The gas agency remained closed during the protest, and no official response could be obtained from the owner regarding the allegations raised by locals.
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