A severe shortage of LPG cylinders in Bengaluru is forcing restaurants, small eateries and even households to look for alternative cooking methods, while some are choosing to shut down. From firewood to induction cooktops, businesses across the city are improvising to keep their kitchens running. Industry representatives say the crisis has already forced several eateries to shut down while many others have increased food prices to cope with rising operational costs.Restaurants turn to wood fire to keep kitchens running For many eateries, the lack of LPG cylinders has meant going back to traditional cooking methods. Prajwala BR, manager of Nammura Coffee Katte in RR Nagar, says the situation has forced them to switch to firewood. “Though the price of an LPG cylinder has gone up to `5,500, we are ready to pay, but cylinders are not available. We have been using wood fire for a week now, as we cannot lose our customers,” she says. Firewood sales surge across the city The LPG crunch has also created an unexpected boom in the firewood trade. Ahmed, a firewood trader in Shivajinagar, says sales have sharply increased over the past week. “Some are ordering online too,” he says. Eateries shut down, food prices rise PC Rao, president of the Bangalore Hotel Association, says “Twenty-five eateries in the city have already shut down following the LPG crisis,” he says. He adds that many others have been left with no choice but to increase food prices by `5 – `20 to offset rising costs.Spike in demand for induction stove repairs The shortage has also led to a sudden surge in demand for induction stoves, both among households and commercial establishments. Sharath Kumar, owner of Sri Varalakshmi Electronics in Jayanagar, says service requests have more than doubled in recent days. “Usually we had around 5–10 induction stoves coming in for service on a day or through the week, now we have more, about 20–25 a day,” he says.Gas crisis charge even on items that don’t use LPG Some hotels and restaurants have begun adding a “gas charge” or “LPG surcharge” of ₹15–₹30 to customer bills as commercial LPG costs rise. However, diners note the fee is being applied even to items like lemonade and other beverages that require no cooking gas,
