PATNA, April 20 -- Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) consumers here are facing delivery delays of up to nine days, significantly higher than the backlog figures claimed by oil marketing companies, officials and customers said. Indane distributors, Akhand Jyoti, reported a nine-day backlog, with LPG refills booked on April 10 being delivered only on Sunday. This contrasts with claims by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) that the average backlog stands at 4.15 days in Patna and 4.8 days across Bihar. Consumers also highlighted inconsistencies in delivery communication. Saurabh Kumar, a customer of Akhand Jyoti, said he received his refill nine days after booking it on April 10. "I got the DAC on April 17, but soon after, an SMS informed me of an additional four-day delay," he said. Another consumer, R Kumar said, "I received the cylinder after nine days and also got a message about a further delay after receiving the DAC. Attempts to contact the distributor failed," he said. At Safeway Gas Agency, another Indane distributor, a customer reported receiving two DAC numbers for a single booking. LPG refills will only be delivered with a DAC, as per the latest government order. A section of LPG delivery personnel attributed the delays to a recent strike over low wages. "We were getting Rs.11 per cylinder earlier, which has now been increased to Rs.15 after the strike. Even now, the wages remain low," said a delivery worker on condition of anonymity....