Ranchi: Escalating tensions in West Asia leading to a shortage in LPG supply has left many residents in the city, mainly students and migrant workers staying in private hostels and rented accommodations without gas connections, in a fix.The students and workers depend on hundreds of gas repair shops across the city to refill their cylinders mostly in an ‘illegal’ manner.However, the LPG crisis has led to most of the shops stopping refill of LPG cylinders, while others have shut down for the last few days. As a result, the section dependent on these shops is now turning to electric stoves and other alternatives.Several students living in hostels, rented rooms and paying guest accommodations said the situation has become difficult due to the closure of refilling units.Utkarsh Kumar, an employee of a private company, said that since Monday, he and his roommate have checked dozens of refilling shops. “But everyone cited the unavailability of LPG cylinders. Though we offered to pay more than the actual rate, they expressed their inability to provide cylinders. Finally, we decided to buy an induction stove for Rs 2,500,” he added.Many staying in hostels and PG accommodations are also relying on online food delivery apps, shelling out extra from their pockets.Shailendra, a daily wager from Bihar, said, “Before the shops stopped refilling LPG cylinders, they were charging Rs 200 per kg. It was Rs 95 per kg just 10 days back. I could not afford to pay sucha high amount. So, I have now turned to firewood. I gather wood from the work site while returning to my rented accommodation and cook food using it,” he added.While people are shifting to electric stoves, an increased electricity bill is also emerging as a major issue. “My landlord charges extra for electricity, apart from the room rent. Now that I have bought an induction stove, it will increase my electricity consumption and thereby the room rent. I pay Rs 7 per unit of electricity,” Arvind, who stays in rented accommodation in Kokar, said.An LPG refilling shop owner in Kokar, on the condition of anonymity, said, “I have stopped refilling cylinders for the last five days and shut my shop too, as customers are repeatedly calling. I have run out of stock and I am not able to purchase cylinders, even paying extra money.”
