LPG shortage leaves restaurants in the heat; induction sales rise

Restaurants in cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai may halt operations temporarily as a shortage of commercial LPG cylinders disrupts kitchen supplies. The crunch is being linked to supply disruptions and distribution delays, with oil companies also prioritising domestic LPG cylinders for households, leaving eateries struggling to secure fresh stock. What happenedHotel and restaurant associations have raised the alarm, saying many establishments have received little to no supply of commercial cylinders in recent days. In a letter to authorities, industry bodies warned that if supplies are not restored immediately, eateries may be forced to suspend operations. The associations have urged the government and oil marketing companies to intervene and ensure uninterrupted LPG supply for the hospitality sector. Meanwhile, some restaurants are exploring temporary alternatives such as induction stoves and electric cooking equipment to keep kitchens running. Sale of Induction stoves multiplyRetailers report induction cooker sales rising by as much as 60% in recent days as consumers and restaurants look for alternatives to LPG. According to reports, some stores said daily sales increased from around 40–45 units to about 120–130 units during the spike. Other electric cooking appliances such as electric kettles and hot plates are also seeing higher demand as households and businesses prepare for possible LPG shortages.