LPG shortage triggers long queues in MP:Elderly and children wait for cylinders; booking servers fail and supply delays stretch to 7–8 days

The LPG shortage in Madhya Pradesh is worsening, with people across several cities struggling to get cooking gas cylinders. In cities such as Bhopal and Indore, people—including elderly citizens and children—are making repeated visits to gas agencies in search of cylinders. At many places, residents were seen standing in long queues for hours, while in some areas cylinders were distributed under police supervision to prevent chaos. On Friday, police vehicles were seen patrolling outside gas agencies and warehouses in Bhopal to maintain order as large crowds gathered at all 23 gas agencies in the city. Adding to the problem, the LPG booking server has reportedly been down, making it difficult for customers to place orders. As a result, many people have not received cylinders even after waiting for seven to eight days. Hotels running out of commercial gas cylinders The shortage has also affected the hospitality sector. More than 50,000 hotels and restaurants in the state have reportedly not received commercial LPG cylinders for the past five days. According to hotel operators, many establishments now have gas reserves for only 24 to 48 hours, pushing them to the brink of temporary closure. To keep their kitchens running, hotels have started using induction cooktops and diesel furnaces as alternative arrangements. Government says supply is normal, warns against hoarding As the crisis intensified, district collectors across the state stepped in to monitor the situation. However, the state government said that LPG supply in Madhya Pradesh is completely normal. Officials urged citizens not to panic or stock extra cylinders. The government has also warned that strict action will be taken against hoarding and black marketing of LPG cylinders. Install induction, diesel stoves in hotels Hotels turning to induction stoves and diesel furnaces Sumit Suri, President of the MP Hotel Association, said he met Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav and requested that hotels and restaurants be treated as essential services. The Chief Minister has assured them that the issue will be addressed. Meanwhile, hotel operators are focusing on alternative cooking arrangements such as induction cooktops and diesel furnaces. The association has also issued guidelines to businesses on how to conserve gas and manage operations during the shortage. The association represents about 10,500 hotels across cities such as Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Ujjain, and Jabalpur, while the total number of hotels in the state is estimated to be around 50,000. Several major hotels in Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, Pachmarhi, Khajuraho, Orchha, and Maihar have already installed large induction cooktops. Even the MP Tourism Board’s rooftop kitchen at Minto Hall in Bhopal has begun using induction-based cooking. Demand for induction stoves and firewood rises Due to the LPG shortage, induction stoves and firewood have become key alternatives for cooking. Tejkul Pal Singh Pali, President of the Bhopal Hotel Association, said commercial cylinders have not been supplied for the past five days. Most hotels now have stock for only one or two days. The sudden demand has increased the sale of induction cooktops by seven to ten times across the state, while prices have also doubled. Diesel furnaces that earlier cost ₹15,000–₹18,000 are now being sold for ₹30,000–₹35,000. Firewood prices have also increased by ₹2–₹3 per kilogram. IRCTC prepares contingency plan for trains Amid the LPG shortage concerns, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) clarified that food services on trains in the West Central Railway (WCR) region remain normal. IRCTC spokesperson A.K. Singh said food is being regularly supplied to trains through around 25 cluster kitchens operating in the region. These kitchens are providing meals to all major trains, and so far no disruption has been reported. He added that cluster kitchens currently have adequate stock of LPG cylinders to continue operations. 658 cylinders seized during raid in Bhopal Amid reports of shortages and black marketing, the administration conducted a major raid in Bhopal. Authorities seized 658 LPG cylinders from three trucks and one loading auto during the operation. The seized stock included 215 commercial cylinders (19 kg capacity), of which 21 were filled, and 348 domestic cylinders, including 18 filled ones. Officials also recovered 95 empty cylinders of 5 kg capacity. In total, 30 cylinders were found filled. Similar actions have also been reported in Ujjain and several smaller towns. Congress protests over LPG crisis The opposition Congress party has also stepped in, attempting to highlight the issue and target the government over the gas shortage. In Bhopal, Congress leader Manoj Shukla staged a protest on Friday by carrying a gas cylinder and stepping into a drain, where he symbolically lit a flame from the cylinder to demonstrate the crisis. Party workers in several areas have been visiting localities with gas cylinders to raise awareness and protest against the alleged shortage.