Kathmandu, May 2 -- Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) producers say they are unable to unload cooking gas from storage bullets as a shortage of cylinders has disrupted the normal supply cycle, with a majority of cylinders now held by consumers following the introduction of half-filled gas sales.

"We have not been able to unload the cooking gas from bullets due to a lack of cylinders. Most cylinders are being held by customers hoping that full cylinders will arrive, which has affected the normal flow of cooking gas in the market," said Diwan Bahadur Chand, president of the Nepal LP Gas Association.

The situation has been further complicated by reports of unsafe practices emerging in the market. "We have heard that some restaurants and hotels...