Iran War Triggers LPG Crisis: Restaurants, Street Food Stalls in Gujarat Begin Shutting Down

Ahmedabad | Gujarat — The ripple effects of the ongoing US–Israel conflict with Iran have begun to disrupt everyday life in Gujarat, with a sudden shortage of commercial LPG cylinders pushing thousands of small restaurants and street food vendors toward closure. The crisis has intensified overnight as supply disruptions hit eateries that rely heavily on LPG cylinders rather than piped natural gas (PNG).

According to the Gujarat Hotel and Restaurant Association, restaurants without PNG connections are facing severe operational challenges as the supply of commercial cylinders has reportedly been disrupted across several cities.

Hotel association leaders say the situation could worsen in the coming days if supplies are not restored quickly.

Narendra Somani, President of the Gujarat Hotel and Restaurant Association, said small eateries are already being forced to shut down.

“Nearly 70 to 80 percent of hotels in Gujarat run on gas pipelines, but about 20 to 30 percent depend on commercial LPG cylinders. Right now, the supply of cylinders has stopped in several places. Small restaurants and roadside food stalls that rely on these cylinders have started closing,” Somani said.

The impact is already visible across cities where gas agencies are witnessing long queues of people trying to secure cylinders. Many restaurants had booked gas cylinders online in advance, but the sudden supply disruption has left them scrambling.

Ajitbhai Patel, a Surat-based gas distributor and proprietor of AR Contractors, said the crisis is linked to global supply disruptions caused by the war.

“The war situation has affected gas production and the company has temporarily stopped the supply of commercial cylinders. At this stage, no one can predict when the shortage will end because it depends on how long the conflict continues,” Patel said.

In Vadodara, the situation has become particularly alarming. According to Hemal Mehta, Vice President of the Baroda Hotel Association, more than 5,000 hotels and street food vendors in the city are on the verge of closure due to the gas shortage.

“This crisis could directly and indirectly impact the livelihoods of around four to five lakh people, including hotel workers and delivery riders working with platforms like food delivery services,” Mehta warned.

Restaurant owners have also complained about the rise of a black market for cylinders, with prices reportedly surging sharply amid the shortage.

In Surat and South Gujarat, hotel associations have issued advisories asking restaurants to cut down on gas consumption. Many eateries have already started modifying their menus by removing dishes that require slow cooking or heavy gas usage.

Hotel manager Fenil Relia said restaurants are taking emergency measures to survive the crisis.

“We are facing a serious shortage of commercial LPG cylinders. To cope with this, we have removed gas-intensive dishes from the menu. Items like steamed idli, dosa and uttappa will not be served for now,” Relia said.

Industry leaders warn that if gas supply is not restored within the next few days, the hospitality sector in Gujarat could face a major shutdown similar to the disruptions seen during the Covid-19 pandemic.