1 month ago
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In a windowless country of a five-storey gathering connected Rampur Nahar Road successful the Musallahpur Hatt country of eastbound Patna, Prahalad Kumar, 24, and Rahul Kumar, 25, person crammed their cots, survey table, coaching materials, books stacked connected cemented slabs, a azygous state stove with a five-kg Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinder, and different essentials needed for regular use.
But their LPG cylinder is empty, and they person not cooked a due repast since Tuesday. “We are surviving lone on chura-dahi (flattened atom and curd) and sattu (roasted gram flour),” Mr. Rahul said connected Wednesday. Like lakhs of different students, some are enrolled astatine the adjacent coaching institute to hole for competitory examinations for authorities jobs. They, on with their person Shrawan Kumar, tried getting their LPG cylinder refilled, but without success.
Earlier, refilling a tiny LPG cylinder outgo astir ₹100, but since the shortage began owed to struggle successful West Asia, they person been paying ₹300 to ₹350. “If the situation continues, we volition spell backmost to our village. It is amended to instrumentality location than autumn sick oregon stay bare here,” they said. Their person Guddu Yadav, 28, hailing from Supaul territory similar them, said they are waiting lone for the State government’s Assistant Education Development Officer (ADEO) introspection scheduled from April 14-20. “Otherwise, determination is nary constituent staying present successful specified a situation,” Mr. Yadav said.
Food prices spell up
Even roadside hotels person raised repast prices from ₹10 to ₹40, the students complained. “Our parents are asking america to travel backmost home, saying wellness is much important... Black selling of LPG refills for students is happening openly. Has the authorities not noticed?” said Mr. Prahalad. The State government, however, has said determination is nary shortage of LPG cylinders.
Students carrying bare cylinders could beryllium seen successful respective lanes of Musallahpur Hatt, Bazar Samiti, and Saidpur Nahar areas – the main coaching hub of Patna. Outside Gyan Bindu GS Academy, hundreds of students walked retired aft classes, but attendance has fallen. A unit subordinate astatine the reception admitted determination had been a crisp driblet since the LPG shortage began. At the adjacent coaching institute tally by Faisal Khan, popularly known arsenic Khan Sir, an bureau unit subordinate told The Hindu that the situation has affected attendance.
Back to coal
Rajendra Yadav, who runs Mohit Library astatine Saidpur Nahar Road for astir 200 students, said attendance has dropped from 210 to astir 100. “The interaction connected students’ lives successful the metropolis is bad,” helium said. At Shree Sai Girls Hostel, cooking has shifted from LPG to ember to provender implicit 100 students paying ₹6,000-7,000 per month. Magadh Mahila College main Nagendra Verma has written to the Patna District Magistrate astir the shortage. “For 10 days, we person not received immoderate LPG supply. We person shifted to ember and wood, and the hostel paper had to beryllium changed,” Mr. Verma told The Hindu.
However, astatine Saidpur Boys Hostel of Patna University, students cooking connected electrical heaters accidental they person not been affected. “We person nary messiness present and we bash not look immoderate crisis,” said a boarder, Anish Kumar. Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav blamed the government. “The situation of LPG, petrol and diesel volition summation further, and it is simply a nonaccomplishment of overseas policy,” helium said.
