LPG crisis intensifies: Weddings, Iftar feasts and 'New-Gen' menus under threat

Malappuram: Parents are growing increasingly anxious over whether they will be forced to postpone their children’s wedding as the commercial LPG shortage worsens. The crisis is also beginning to impact migrant laborers who depend entirely on hotels for their daily meals. The commercial LPG shortage is impacting multiple sectors and the general public.

If the LPG supply dries up completely, small restaurants lacking traditional firewood stoves will have to shut down temporarily. The Mancheri Area Committee leaders of the Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHRA) stated that if the distribution of cooking gas is not restored, hotels and tea shops in Mancheri will be forced to close within two days.

Impact on Weddings and Iftar Feasts

While Hindu weddings are commonly avoided during the month of Kumbham, the season is set to arrive in full swing with the onset of Meenam starting March 15. Similarly, the Muslim wedding season is expected to peak immediately after Ramadan.

Catering owners report that while traditional items like sadya, biryani, and ghee rice can be prepared using firewood, "New-Gen" dishes are nearly impossible to manage. Most catering firms have already secured massive orders for the post-Ramadan period and the beginning of Meenam, but the current uncertainty has left them in a state of deep concern. The shortage is also severely disrupting preparations for Iftar feasts.

Menu cuts and food safety dilemmas

The hotel owners are trimming their menus, specifically cutting back on gas-dependent items such as Shawarma, Broasted items, and Chinese cuisine.

In Malappuram, most hotels currently remain closed during the daytime due to the Ramadan fast. However, those that open in the evening to serve modern favourites face a dilemma: most kitchens rely on LPG to comply with food safety regulations, which mandate hygienic cooking practices by minimizing soot and smoke.

Gas Agencies also face struggle

The crisis is equally dire for distributors. Agencies that typically received an average of two to three loads daily are now down to just one.

"Even this single load is not being received daily," said OM Thomas, owner of the MC Gas Agency in Nilambur. The agency received three loads last Monday, which dropped to two on Tuesday and just one on Wednesday. By Thursday, no supply arrived. Commercial LPG arrivals have been halted for five days, and agencies admit they cannot predict when the next will arrive. Even the booking process has come to a standstill as the system has become completely jammed.