Lucknow: Long queues were seen outside LPG distributing agencies in Lucknow on Tuesday after online gas booking through the IVRS helpline and other digital booking systems stopped working due to technical snag in many parts of the city.Unable to book cylinder refills, worried citizens queued up at the agency offices. The panic was also triggered by shortage of commercial LPG cylinders in the country as a result of Iran’s war with the US and Israel and its impact on oil supplies.At gas distributor offices in Tilak Nagar and Lajpat Nagar, customers waited at counters for hours to book cylinders after the online portal developed snag.Agency staff said the problem was due to a temporary glitch. “There is a server issue right now. It should be resolved soon,” a staff member said, adding that bookings are expected to resume normally once the system is restored. The server remained down in many areas till the filing of this report.Aman Shukla said he could not connect to the Indian Oil Corporation booking helpline despite repeated attempts. “I have now booked a cylinder through Hindustan Petroleum as a backup. If the gas runs out before the delivery arrives, managing daily cooking will become difficult,” he said.Some families said it would be a major worry until they get the refill booked. Sahiba, a resident of Nazarbagh, said, “We kept trying to book since morning but in vain. Calls to the gas agencies too went unanswered.”The disruption highlighted the difficulties faced by those who are not comfortable with digital systems. Charu Srivastava, a Kanpur Road resident, cited the example of her house help. “She struggled because her booking was not processed and had to seek my help,” said Charu.At Indane Jawan Gas Service in Lalkuan, many consumers came to make offline bookings. One woman said she had to come after her calls went unanswered.Some residents explored alternatives. Hasan Faisal, a resident of Khadra, said he bought a cylinder in the black market after failing to secure a regular refill. “I bought a cylinder for Rs 1,050 while the regular rate is around Rs 900. In a crisis, we have to manage somehow because there is no supply,” he said.Residents of Nirala Nagar and Aliganj said they had booked cylinders earlier but were still awaiting delivery. They are worried that existing cylinders may run out before the refill arrives.(With inputs from Mariyam Shakeel, Shruti Shukla, Love Agarwal, Amritansh Singh, Namra Zubair)BOXBooking system functioning: Gas firmsOfficials of LPG companies said the booking system was functioning normally. Consumers can use alternative digital booking methods such as SMS booking, missed call services, or mobile application-based booking, they said. Sources explained that the IVR system may automatically disconnect if a consumer attempts to book a second refill within 25 days of the previous booking, which may lead to confusion among users.
