Coal stoves see revival amid rationing of LPG cylinders

Lucknow: Restrictions on commercial LPG distribution and disruptions in domestic LPG supply in the city led to a sharp rise in the sale of coal stoves, angithis and earthen furnaces, as households and food vendors turned to traditional methods to cook meals.

Vendors said demand for coal stoves and earthen furnaces jumped sharply in the last two to three days, rising from an almost negligible one to two pieces a day to around 35–40 units daily at some shops. What was once an occasional purchase quickly became a necessity for many small businesses and families.


At a shop in Mawaiya, its owner Vipin Kumar said sales rose dramatically in the past week.

"Earlier, sales of bhattis were almost negligible, but now we are selling 35 to 40 in a single day," he said, adding that the shop started taking advance orders as production struggled to keep pace.

Much of the demand came from street food vendors who depended on LPG for daily cooking. With cylinders hard to arrange, many shifted to coal furnaces to keep their stalls running.

Dharmendra Kumar, who ran another furnace shop in the same row, said limited raw material made it difficult to meet the sudden demand. "The demand is very high and we cannot produce enough. Prices that were around Rs 1,200 may rise to nearly Rs 1,500," he said.

Customers said they often waited several hours to collect their orders as workers continued making furnaces throughout the day.

Dinesh, who ran a tea stall in Bhootnath, said the shortage began to affect small businesses directly.

"Our work depends on cooking throughout the day. When LPG cylinders are not available, a bhatti becomes the only option," he said.

However, many vendors said switching to traditional stoves was not easy. A food vendor from Chatori Gali in Gomti Nagar said managing coal or wood, controlling the heat and maintaining the furnace required more effort compared to LPG.

Households also began to buy these stoves as a precaution. Ayushi Thapa, a local resident waiting outside a shop, said she decided to purchase one for emergency use.

"We do not know when LPG supply will become normal again, so it is better to have a backup," she said.

For now, vendors and families were adjusting to the shift while hoping the LPG supply stabilised soon.