Amid concerns over LPG supply triggered by escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia, the Centre has said adequate measures are in place to ensure the uninterrupted availability of petroleum products and cooking gas across the country.The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said an Indian-flagged tanker, Jag Laadki, safely departed from the Fujairah Single Point Mooring after an attack on the Fujairah oil terminal during its crude loading operations. The vessel left at 10:30 am IST on Sunday carrying around 80,800 metric tonnes of Murban crude oil bound for India, with all Indian crew members onboard reported safe.The government also said its appeal against panic booking of LPG cylinders appears to be working. Domestic LPG bookings dropped from 88.8 lakh on Friday to 77 lakh on Saturday. Online bookings rose from 84% to 87%, and no dry-outs were reported at LPG distributor points, although unusually high call volumes earlier caused system disruptions and long queues at some gas depots.Despite these assurances, the LPG crunch has begun affecting the food and beverage industry in Bengaluru. Hotels and restaurants in the city said business has declined by nearly 30% as commercial LPG supplies have reportedly been limited to around 20% of normal levels. Many eateries have cut down their menus, temporarily stopped serving items such as fried snacks and kebabs, and shortened operating hours to conserve fuel.Some larger establishments have switched to firewood to continue cooking, while smaller outlets say space constraints make such alternatives difficult. Paying guest accommodations, hostels and apartment complexes have also warned residents about simplified meals and possible food disruptions.According to the Bengaluru Hotels' Association, restaurants are facing losses of around 25-30%, with operators reporting a drop in customer footfall as several popular dishes have been removed from menus due to fuel shortages.Meanwhile, in Delhi, Food Supplies Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said cooking gas supplies in the capital remain stable. The Delhi government has deployed 70 enforcement teams to monitor markets, prevent hoarding and ensure fair distribution of LPG, while prioritising domestic consumers.Stay updated with the latest LPG crisis updates from India's top cities - Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata - only on Times Now., City News, Times Now
