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The price of a filled Liquefied Petroleum (LP) gas cylinder has increased by Rs. 700 in Simkot, district headquarters of Humla, following the resumption of gas supplies to the local market.

Although consumers have felt relief with the availability of LP gas after facing a prolonged shortage, they have expressed concern over the sharp rise in prices.

Consumer Janaki Rokaya said that a fully filled gas cylinder, which previously sold for Rs. 2,500, is now being sold for Rs. 3,200, marking an increase of Rs. 700 per cylinder.

The price hike has added a financial burden to households, she said.

Gas dealers attributed the increase to higher transportation costs, poor road conditions and rising management expenses.

They said the cost of transporting goods to Humla remains significantly higher than in other districts because the district is not yet fully connected to the national road network and has difficult geographical terrain.

Despite the higher price, consumers continue to purchase LP gas as its availability has made cooking more convenient.

Many households had been forced to rely on firewood and other alternative fuels due to a shortage of cooking gas until recently.

Consumer Raj Bahadur Budha said the resumption of gas supplies is expected to make daily life easier, although the increased price has placed additional pressure on household budgets. He added that the higher cost is particularly challenging for low-income families.

Consumers have urged the concerned authorities to improve transportation management and ensure fair pricing.

They also stressed the need for reliable supplies of essential commodities at reasonable prices.

Acute cooking gas shortage in Surkhet

Meanwhile, a severe shortage of LPG has surfaced in the Surkhet Valley, forcing residents to queue outside gas depots overnight and from the early hours of the morning in the hope of obtaining a cylinder.

Consumers said there is no guarantee of receiving gas even after waiting in line for several hours.

Long queues of empty gas cylinders can be seen outside local depots, where children, women and elderly people wait for their turn.

Many, however, are forced to return home with empty cylinders after hours of waiting, making daily life increasingly difficult.

Local resident Yam Prasad Sharma Rijal said he had been standing in line since the previous night, only to be told when the depot opened that the gas was already out of stock.

"We have been queuing since last night, but when the depot opens, they tell us the gas is finished. It has become extremely difficult just to cook our daily meals. No one seems to care about our suffering," he said.

Rijal urged the authorities to disclose the actual reason behind the shortage if supplies from the source have genuinely declined.

Another local resident, Ganesh Acharya, said civil society, the public, the local administration, the Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection, and the District Monitoring Committee should take the issue seriously. Acharya demanded that the authorities immediately make public the actual status of LPG supplies, conduct strict and impartial inspections of gas depots and distributors.

Local residents warned that public patience is waning and cautioned that protests could follow if the administration fails to restore a smooth supply of cooking gas in a timely manner.