“Don’t Panic”: MP Raju Bista Assures Sufficient LPG Stock for North Bengal Amid Global Crisis

Gas Booking System Crashes in North Bengal: Raju Bista Slams ‘Political Rumors’ Triggering Panic

Siliguri, March 13, 2026 — Member of Parliament Raju Bista has stepped in to reassure the residents of North Bengal that there is an ample supply of domestic LPG cylinders in the region, urging the public not to succumb to panic buying.

Addressing widespread public anxiety triggered by the ongoing global energy crisis and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Bista stated that he has personally spoken with the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) Nodal Officer to review the ground situation.

“I was informed that they have sufficient stock to meet the needs of the people of our region,” Bista assured citizens in a public statement.

Panic Booking Causes Software Crash

Explaining the recent difficulties residents faced while trying to order gas, the MP revealed that the IOCL booking system temporarily collapsed due to an artificial surge in demand.

According to Bista, the nodal officer noted that IOCL normally processes around 50,000 gas cylinder requests per day across the entire North Bengal region. However, fear-driven consumers attempted to book gas multiple times on Thursday, causing the booking system to become overburdened and ultimately forcing the software to shut down. Bista confirmed that the technical glitch has been resolved and normal booking operations were successfully restored today.

Political Rumor-Mongering Condemned

The MP did not mince words when addressing the root cause of the panic, blaming political opponents for intentionally stoking public fear. “It has come to light that some unscrupulous individuals with vested political interests are indulging in spreading rumours to spread fear and panic among the citizens,” Bista said, firmly requesting citizens not to be swayed by such misinformation.

Alternative Global Supplies Secured

While acknowledging the severe disruptions in global energy supplies due to the escalating conflict in West Asia, Bista assured that the Central Government is prioritizing domestic consumption and keeping existing rates stable. He added that the Government of India is proactively securing additional Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and LPG from alternative international sources outside the Middle East, while simultaneously ramping up domestic production.

“I am keeping a close eye on the situation and will do everything in my power to ensure that people in our region do not have to face any problems,” Bista assured, emphasizing that the government is working aggressively to normalize the supply chain at the earliest.

In the past few days, people have shared their concern about the availability of domestic gas. I spoke to the IOCL Nodal Officer regarding this. I was informed that they have sufficient stock to meet the needs of the people of our region.

He further explained that normally IOCL… pic.twitter.com/KfjFKWmBej

— Raju Bista (@RajuBistaBJP) March 13, 2026