Shimla : The state capital Shimla and many other areas in Himachal Pradesh are facing a scarcity of LPG cylinders .
Reports said after booking a cylinder it is taking several days for delivery in Shimla town among other places . The situation is even worse in the interior areas of the state .
There are even reports about desperate people buying a Rs LPG 450 cylinder in black for Rs 600 in Shimla .
Sources say the supply of cooking gas cylinders has been hit by a truckers strike in Ghaziabad where the IOC’s LPG plant is located .
While the oil companies are attributing the shortage due to the truckers strike and snow blocked roads . The state government is being criticised for not having enough cooking gas stocks ahead of the harsh winter .
In a 20 year career published widely. He has worked for the BBC, AFP, The Statesman, IANS and the Business Standard . Known for his hard hitting writing and occasional off-beat stories. He lives in Shimla.