LPG shortage in South India forces restaurant closures

2026-03-11 - 02:49

A severe shortage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in parts of South India, reportedly triggered by the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, has forced several restaurants in the region to shut down, according to Indian media reports. Meanwhile, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu – M. K. Stalin, has reportedly written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the union government to introduce alternative arrangements to address the LPG shortage. He has also requested assurances that the situation will not affect the public, commercial establishments, or Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state. The National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHAR), Bengaluru Hotels Association, Chennai Hotels Association, Chennai Tea Shops Association, the Hotel & Restaurant Association of Odisha (HRAO), and several hoteliers have warned that the non-availability of cooking gas would force many units to shut their shops. According to reports by ‘The Hindu’, around 20% of hotels and restaurants in Mumbai have shut down, with associations projecting that nearly 50% of hotels and restaurants in Mumbai will shut down in two days if the situation does not improve.