Hooghly: While the global energy market shudders under the weight of Middle East tensions, students at Bhadrakali High School in West Bengal found a silver lining at the bottom of a spiced-water bowl.

As a nationwide Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) shortage forces restaurants to revert to primitive firewood, one school turned a logistics nightmare into a viral "street food" feast.

The unconventional scene was captured by assistant teacher Nandita Sarkar and shared on Instagram, where it quickly racked up over a million views. Instead of the standard rice and dal, the video shows a traditional phuchka (golgappa) vendor stationed in the school courtyard.

One by one, students are seen lining up as if at a weekend fair, each receiving five to six pieces of the iconic street snack as their mid-day meal.

The video has sparked a firestorm of debate online, reflecting the mixed emotions of a public currently grappling with rising fuel costs.

"Which school is this? I want to get admitted," one user joked. Others praised it as a "creative solution" to keep children fed during a fuel crisis.

Some were less amused, suggesting that if cooking gas was unavailable, "You should give them fruits, curd, sweets, so many options are there... They r children... U need to think about them."

Some local observers argued that rural schools could easily use traditional mud stoves (chulhas) to cook regular meals, suggesting the phuchka party was more of a "treat" than a desperate necessity.

The "phuchka solution" comes against a backdrop of serious geopolitical instability. Ongoing friction between Iran, Israel, and the United States has cast a shadow over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for the world’s energy supply.

However, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon. Following intense negotiations by the Indian government, two Indian-flagged tankers, including the Shivalik carrying 45,000 metric tonnes of LPG, have finally cleared the Strait of Hormuz.

The Shivalik is expected to dock at Mundra Port within hours, promising much-needed relief to the western coast.

While authorities maintain that there is no long-term shortage of petrol or diesel, for the students of Bhadrakali High, the global energy crisis provided a flavor they won’t soon forget.