Haldwani, April 7 -- The manager of an Indane gas agency operated by the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam in Champawat district died under suspicious circumstances on Sunday night, officials said. The deceased was identified as DS Rawat, officials said. Following his death, gas supply operations briefly faced disruption and a notice announcing the suspension of distribution and administrative work was put up at the agency. However, after intervention by senior officials, the notice was withdrawn and gas supply was restored, officials said. According to family members, Rawat's health suddenly deteriorated on Sunday evening. Rajendra Singh Bora, Rawat's brother-in-law, said Rawat had discharged a relative from the district hospital around 6.30 pm and dropped them home. "About an hour later, Rawat's health suddenly deteriorated and he complained of severe abdominal pain. Family members rushed him to the district hospital where he died during treatment," Bora said. Locals said the ongoing controversy surrounding LPG shortages had created a stressful environment for agency staff and Rawat had been under pressure. However, KMVN officials denied claims of suicide. General manager of the KMVN, Vijay Nath Shukla, said the exact cause of death would only be known after autopsy. "I have no information suggesting suicide. The exact cause of death will be known only after post-mortem report is received. The management stands with the bereaved family in this difficult time," Shukla said. He added that a notice referring to suicide was mistakenly issued by employees expressing grief and was later removed. Shukla clarified that LPG supply across the Kumaon region has not been affected and that gas agencies are functioning normally. "I appeal to gas agency staff and consumers not to pay attention to rumours," he said....