Krishna Bahadur Adhikari, proprietor of Gyaneshwor-based Kavit Gas Supplier, said he has not received cooking gas supplies for the last month. Adhikari, who used to sell 1,900 cylinders a month, complained he was now out of work, thanks to the stoppage of petroleum shipments from India.

The country has been facing a short supply of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for the last one and half months since the Madhes-based parties launched their agitation. The situation worsened further after India imposed a trade “blockade” on Nepal, not allowing cargo containers carrying vital supplies from entering Nepal since Tuesday.

Shanti Ghimire, a resident of Bhatbhateni, she has been waiting for the past month to purchase a cylinder. “Previously, I was told to stay in queue for 10 days, but now gas dealers say it is uncertain when they will be able to supply,” she said.

After the India-imposed trade restriction, both LPG bottlers and gas dealers have run out of stock, they said. Nepal LP Gas Industry Association, in a public notice, has urged the government to initiate steps to manage the cooking gas supply.

Kush Malli, vice-president of the association, said LPG has been out of stock for the last 10 days. he said around 250 bullets have been stranded on Indian roads in Raxaul, Sunauli and Jogbani.

“A few bullets have been stuck on the Nepali side of the border for the last four days,” he said.

Gas dealers have also ran out of stock. Chandra Thapa, general secretary of Gas Dealers’ Federation, urged the government to take initiatives to import LPG even from third countries as the shortage was getting acute.

During normal times, LPG bottlers sold 20,000 tonnes of cooking gas per month on an average. Despite such a huge demand, both Nepal Oil Corporation and private bottling companies do not have an LPG storage plant.

Meanwhile, Commerce Minister Sunil Bahadur Thapa is visiting India to hold talks with the Indian authorities. Commerce Secretary Naindra Prasad Upadhyaya said Thapa’s visit would focus on easing the supplies of the essentials to Nepal.