Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: The ongoing LPG supply crisis in Kerala, which initially disrupted commercial establishments, has now begun affecting domestic consumers as well, with many reporting difficulties in booking cylinders.

While oil companies maintain that the shortage is largely limited to commercial cylinders, LPG distributors say several areas are also experiencing limited availability of domestic cylinders. Distributors across the state say they are being flooded with queries from consumers, but have little clarity on when normal supply will resume.

"Eighty per cent of our LPG supply is from Qatar, and we have no alternative source. This is the main issue. For the government, domestic supply is more important, and they do not bother about the commercial supply," Sanal Kumar G, general secretary of the All India LPG Distributors Federation (Kerala Circle), told PTI.

Also read | LPG crisis: Borosil shuts Jaipur plant, sends home 3,000 workers

He said distributors are currently facing operational challenges as well, with the oil companies’ booking software frequently going offline, making it difficult for consumers to place refill requests.

"When we call the numbers to book domestic cylinders, we either get no reply or a message stating that the number does not exist. They say I can book a refill only after 25 days of getting a cylinder. In my case, I booked my earlier cylinder about a month ago, but still could not book a refill," a domestic consumer in Jagathi said.

Even the 5-kg LPG cylinders, which are often used as an emergency option by households, are reportedly running out of stock in several places.

The shortage has already severely impacted the hospitality sector. Many restaurants and small eateries are shutting down operations or cutting down their menu due to the lack of commercial LPG cylinders.

The Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHRA) has suggested that nearby eateries consider sharing common cooking spaces to reduce LPG usage. However, restaurant owners say the idea is not practical.

Also read | Reliance lobbying helped India get US waiver on Russian oil: Reports

"This is not a practical option. We have LPG left for one or two days and we will have to find an alternative. We have already cut many items from our menu," said Alif Vayalil, a restaurant owner and executive member of the Thiruvananthapuram district committee of the KHRA.

According to him, several eateries have already shut down or are operating with minimal staff and limited menus. He added that shifting to alternatives like firewood is not feasible in urban areas due to space constraints.

The crisis is also affecting temporary workers employed in restaurants and eateries, many of whom are losing their jobs as establishments scale down operations.

"We stopped billing for commercial cylinders starting Monday as there is no supply," said Sanal Kumar G, owner of the KR Gas agency in Kaimanam.

Also read | Iran’s new Supreme Leader says Strait of Hormuz must remain closed in first public statement

Meanwhile, canteens operating in several state and central government offices have either shut down or may soon be forced to stop functioning due to the shortage.

Distributors have reportedly written to oil companies seeking special allocations for essential establishments such as hospitals and prisons, but even those requests are facing difficulties.

Amid the crisis, activists of DYFI, the youth wing of the CPI(M), staged a protest in front of the Head Post Office in Kannur on Thursday, demanding the restoration of LPG supply. The activists held a dharna while raising slogans before the police arrived and detained them.