For thousands of families across the Kashmir Valley and several parts of Jammu, the shortage of cooking gas has once again become a harsh daily reality. From Kupwara to Kulgam, from Bandipora to Doda, villagers are spending hours standing in long queues outside gas agencies, only to be told at the end of the day, “Come tomorrow.” This repeated crisis is no longer just an inconvenience — it reflects administrative failure and poor crisis management.
Cooking gas is not a luxury. It is a basic necessity linked to every household, particularly in rural Jammu and Kashmir where alternatives are limited and expensive. Women, elderly citizens and daily wage labourers suffer the most. Many leave behind their work and responsibilities just to secure a gas cylinder, yet return home empty-handed. Such scenes expose the widening gap between government claims and ground reality.
Authorities often blame bad weather, transportation delays or increased demand. While these factors may occasionally affect supply, the repeated shortages reveal a deeper failure of planning. Every year, especially during peak demand periods, the same crisis resurfaces. A serious administration should have anticipated these challenges long ago and created safeguards to protect consumers.
The lack of accountability has only worsened public frustration. Officials rarely visit rural distribution centres to witness the suffering themselves. Many agencies continue to function without proper token systems, clear schedules or transparency in supply distribution. In some places, allegations of black marketing further deepen public anger.
The government must realise that people are losing patience. Development promises mean little when families cannot access something as basic as cooking fuel. Governance is measured not by speeches, but by the delivery of essential services.
Immediate corrective measures are needed. Authorities must ensure regular supply to villages, strengthen monitoring of gas agencies, create emergency reserves for remote areas and introduce transparent distribution mechanisms. Mobile delivery systems can also help reduce hardships in far-flung regions.
The people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve dignity, not endless queues and repeated assurances. If the administration cannot guarantee the supply of an essential commodity like cooking gas, then public criticism is not politics — it is a justified response to continued neglect.
