Gangtok, March 13 -- If you've been worrying about running out of cooking gas in Sikkim, you can breathe a sigh of relief. State authorities have stepped in to clarify that there is absolutely no shortage of LPG cylinders. The recent delays and sudden rush for refills are simply the result of widespread panic buying.

Lobzang Thendub Bhutia, Managing Director of the State Trading Corporation of Sikkim (STCS), confirmed that the state's supply chain is completely stable. The STCS distribution network in Gangtok currently handles about 10,000 active consumers across neighborhoods like Deorali, Bojhoghari, Lumsey, Tadong, and Rakdong-Tintek. (Another 4,000 of their 14,000 registered users are currently inactive).

Addressing another public c...