Chulhas Burn As LPG Flickers

Chandigarh/Panchkula: With the West Asian crisis wreaking havoc on local kitchens, residents resorted to alternative means of cooking. These alternatives included traditional ‘chullahs' (wood-fired stoves) and coal.

Residents of Mohali, Chandigarh and surrounding areas patiently queued up outside LPG agencies with empty cylinders, hoping to get refills amid uncertain supply. Several consumers alleged that they were either unable to book cylinders or were asked to wait two to three days for delivery.


Wood, coal emerge as alternatives

At firewood and coal shops, business has been brisk for the past two days. In fact, the surging crowds seen recently at these shops is unprecedented. Vendors said many households were purchasing small iron chullahs priced between Rs 250 and Rs 300 to cook food temporarily till resumption of normal LPG supply.

One of the residents trying alternative modes of cooking is B B Thapa of Nayagaon, who was forced to look for a solution after failing to get a cylinder.

"I tried to buy a cylinder but people at the depot told me it would take three days. We have children at home and food has to be cooked daily, so we decided to buy a chullah and start using coal," he said. Thapa added that he purchased a chullah for Rs 250.

Ravinder Singh, a resident of Khudda Alisher, was seen buying coal from a local depot. "We are left with no other option but to purchase chullahs to cook. I bought one for Rs 300 because the LPG crisis is not ending," he said.

Coal and firewood sellers in several local markets said sales had increased significantly since the crisis began. Many vendors reported that their stock was fast running out, although they claimed fresh supplies of wood and coal were available and could meet demand.

Meanwhile, many residents complained that even though domestic LPG cylinders were scarce, commercial LPG delivery vans were seen supplying cylinders to restaurants and other commercial establishments.

A few consumers also alleged that domestic cylinders were sold at inflated prices ranging between Rs 1,200 and Rs 1,600 in certain areas.

With the crisis continuing on Friday, residents urged authorities and gas agencies to restore regular LPG supply at the earliest.

BOX

Langar restored at Mata Mansa Devi shrine

Cooking and serving of langar at the Mata Mansa Devi temple was restored on Friday, much to the relief of thousands of devotees visiting the shrine. After being hit for a few days, services were resumed with the intervention of Panchkula deputy commissioner Satpal Sharma.

Temple authorities said that three community Bhandara halls are continuously preparing and serving langar from morning till late night. Despite challenges related to LPG supply and other cooking arrangements, langar service will remain uninterrupted, ensuring that devotees continue to receive free meals.

In the evening, DSP Sita Ram visited the main Bhandara hall and served langar to devotees.

MSID:: 129558259 413 |