Bhubaneswar, March 30 -- Anger erupted among residents in Keonjhar on Monday morning after a prolonged shortage of cooking gas, as consumers, many of whom had been waiting for 6 to 7 days blocked the road at Shankarpur on the Keonjhar-Belda route. The protest was led by local residents, including women and elderly people, who alleged irregular supply and lack of home delivery by the gas agency.

Frustrated by repeated visits and empty-handed returns from Shankarpur Gas agency, they staged the blockade by placing empty cylinders on the road, prompting police and supply officials to intervene and assure restoration of supply later in the day.

Locals claimed that home delivery services have been irregular, severely affecting elderly people ...