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A 66-year-old man collapsed and died on Friday morning while waiting in a queue for a domestic gas cylinder in Sehna village of Punjab’s Barnala district, police said.

The incident occurred amid reports of a shortage of cooking gas linked to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which has triggered concerns about LPG availability in several regions.

Collapsed Minutes Before Gas Agency Opened

The deceased, Bhushan Kumar Mittal, was a resident of Sehna village and had reached the local gas agency at 7:15 am to secure a place in the queue.

According to police, Mittal collapsed at around 8 am, just minutes before the agency was scheduled to open for distribution.

Sehna station house officer Renu said that several residents had gathered early to ensure they could obtain a cylinder.

Many people in the queue had reportedly been waiting since 6 am, as demand for domestic gas cylinders surged in the area.

Long Queue Outside Gas Agency

Police said Mittal was 25th in line at the time of the incident. By then, the queue outside the gas agency had grown to over 130 people, reflecting the rush among residents seeking cooking gas supplies.

Witnesses said the queue had continued to grow through the morning as more villagers arrived at the agency.

Family Recounts Final Moments

Raman Mittal, the deceased’s nephew, said his uncle had been standing in the queue for nearly 40 minutes before collapsing.

Mittal ran a small grocery shop in the village, according to family members.

“Local shortages led to this tragedy,” Raman said.

Survived By Wife And Daughter

Police said Bhushan Kumar Mittal is survived by his wife and a married daughter. Authorities have recorded the incident and are continuing with the necessary formalities.