Hotels run out of gas amid LPG crisis in MP:Food being cooked on induction in Bhopal-Indore; people stand in queues for 8 hours for domestic cylinders

The cooking gas (LPG) crisis in Madhya Pradesh is worsening. For six days, more than 50,000 hotels and restaurants have not received commercial cylinders. Gas supplies have already run out in many hotels and restaurants in Bhopal and Indore, forcing them to change their menus. Many street vendors have also shut down. Meanwhile, a scramble for domestic cylinders is being seen across the state. Along with commercial supplies, there is also a rush for domestic gas cylinders. Despite bookings, cylinders are not available in Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, Jabalpur, Gwalior and other cities. From small children to the elderly, everyone is standing in queues for hours. Such scenes have become common in Bhopal. On Saturday, people received cylinders only after waiting in the scorching sun for eight hours. The shortage is expected to continue on Sunday as well. See 3 pictures- No supply to hotels and restaurants for 6 days MP Hotel Association President Sumit Suri said that not a single commercial cylinder has been supplied to any hotel or restaurant for the past six days. Until now, they somehow managed the situation, but since Saturday, gas stocks in many hotels and restaurants have started running out. At places where gas is still available, menus have been revised. In particular, dishes that require extensive gas cooking have been removed from the menu. Hotel operators have also been advised to conserve gas. Hotels turn to alternative arrangements Bhopal Hotel Association President Tejkul Pal Singh Pali said that due to the suspension of gas supply, alternative arrangements have been made. Food is being cooked using induction and diesel stoves. In the capital, most hotel and restaurant operators are also using induction units, electric griddles or fryers, electric cookers and steamers. Street vendors shut down in Bhopal In the Hawkers Zone at 6 Number, there are more than 25 food and beverage stalls. Two to three stalls have remained closed for the past two days. More than 10 street vendors in Shahpura have also shut down operations. No gas for educational institutions either Hospitals, educational institutions, airport and railway station facilities, as well as police and army canteens, have been exempted from the commercial cylinder restrictions. However, cylinders are still not being supplied to Gandhi Medical College (GMC) in Bhopal. The stock in its 16 hostel messes and the centralised kitchen for patients will last only one more day. A waiting period of 25 days is being given after booking. Resident doctors have warned that if the supply is not restored soon, they will have to perform their duties on an empty stomach. Demand for induction and coal rises in Gwalior In Gwalior, food at weddings is now being cooked using diesel furnaces, wood and coal. The demand for induction cooktops and coal in the market has increased by up to 20 per cent. At the Indian Coffee House in Chhindwara, breakfast is now being prepared on traditional stoves due to the unavailability of commercial gas.