Bhubaneswar, April 2 -- In a crackdown on illegal LPG cylinder trade, a four-member team of the Supplies department seized 90 cylinders from a house on Thursday in Birikote village under Mohana block of Gajapati district. The cylinders, belonging to different companies, were allegedly being stored and sold unlawfully amid an ongoing gas shortage.

Officials said the raid was conducted following allegations that a local distributor had been hoarding a large number of cylinders at his residence and selling them to consumers. The seizure has triggered tension among villagers, particularly customers who were dependent on the supply.

According to sources, the illegal storage came to light at a time when the region is facing a gas shortage. It...