Ludhiana: Faced with empty gas tanks, local dhaba owners and tea stallers have sparked a massive run on clay tandoors and wood-stoves. Artisans report “unprecedented” off-season demand as the community pivots to ancient methods to survive the modern-day shortage.A severe shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) due to conflict in the Middle East has forced households and small businesses in Punjab’s industrial hub to abandon modern stoves in favour of these traditional wood and coal-fired alternatives.With an unprecedented out-of-season spike in demand for earthen chulhas (stoves), angeethis (braziers), and clay tandoors, the local artisans, who typically see peak sales only during the winter months, report being overwhelmed by desperate vendors and residents struggling to keep kitchens operational. “The demand is extraordinary,” said Raju, a local stove manufacturer. “I sold more than 100 units yesterday alone. Customers are even paying in advance to reserve equipment, which is something we have never seen before.”The sudden shift has created a secondary supply strain. Many skilled laborers have returned to their home states for the harvest season, leaving manufacturers shorthanded. The desperation is so high that some buyers are reportedly purchasing mud-plastered stoves while they are still wet, opting to dry them at home rather than wait.For the city’s street food culture, the transition is a matter of survival. Tea stall owners and gol gappe vendors say they have no choice but to switch to coal or cow dung cakes to boil water and prepare ingredients. “Without fuel, I cannot run my stall,” said tea vendor Anil Kumar. “This is the only alternative left.”
