For Sujan KC, fuel shortage is more than what has been the worries of every household in the Capital. Short supply of LPG has cut his only source of income.

KC makes his living delivering LPG cylinders to from door to door from a local dealer.

“I don’t know how I’ll manage, I have a family of five to look after,” said KC.

The fuel crisis in the country for the last three weeks has come at a time when KC and his family had just started to come to terms with life after the devastating earthquake of April 25 that flattened his house in Sindhupalchok.

According to Niraj Khadka, owner of a shop where KC works, he used to deal around 300 LPG cylinders a month. For the last 20 days, his shop has remained closed.

The government data shows that Nepal requires 22,000 metric tonne LPG per month; only around 1,000

metric tonne LPG has entered the country after India imposed an undeclared

economic blockade at border points.

KC roughly earned around Rs 15,000 a month by delivering LPG cylinders. With that money he manages his lodging and food in the Capital and sends the savings to his family.

Winter is the season where KC earns the money as he has to make more deliveries as the LPG demand sores up since its consumption goes up as many families in Kathmandu rely on LPG-enabled water heaters and room heaters.

The political deadlock has worried KC. He does not know how he is going to manage if the situation does not get better soon.

“This has been the worst year in my life. My house toppled in the earthquake and now my source of earning is headed to another disaster. If the situation does not get better by winter, I am afraid I will have no option but to go to Gulf and work as a labour,” said KC.