Gurgaon: An acute shortage of LPG has pushed the Nehru Stadium hostel canteen to the brink of closure, threatening to upend the daily routine of young volleyball trainees who depend on it for every meal.If the kitchen shuts, players staying at the hostel may have to leave the stadium and look for food elsewhere — a disruption that could break their training rhythm and force some to return home.The crisis has left 25 volleyball trainees in a limbo. For nearly a week, the kitchen kept running on its last few cylinders, but the canteen operator has now said the stock is exhausted and operations may stop from Saturday.“We were anyway down to the last few cylinders. If fresh supply does not arrive soon, the kitchen cannot continue. We need one cylinder every three days. Even buying one for Rs 2,000 is not sustainable. I have informed the sports department and will have to shut the kitchen from Saturday unless the situation improves,” operator Rakesh Tomar said.For the trainees, the problem is not just about meals, but about the stability that hostel life provides. Many said having to step out for food, or leave the hostel altogether, would disturb a tightly structured practice schedule.“If the kitchen stops, we will have no food here. Many of us may have to leave the hostel, which will directly affect our volleyball practice,” said Sachin (18) from Charkhi Dadri.Parmeet (17) said the hostel allows players to follow a disciplined routine. “We train for several hours every day. If we must arrange food outside or move elsewhere, our routine will be completely disrupted,” he said.Narender (16) of Sirsa said the uncertainty is already affecting concentration. “We want to focus on the sport, not on finding food. If the kitchen shuts, many boys will be forced to leave. That will break our rhythm,” he said.Parveen (17), from Jhajjar, said anxiety is growing among trainees. “The hostel is meant to support our training, but without LPG, everything comes to a halt,” he added.District sports officer Aarti Kohli said the department is yet to receive a formal written intimation. “Once we receive it, we will have to ask the players to vacate,” she added.
