Ahmedabad: The restricted supply and shortage of commercial LPG cylinders, triggered amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, has begun to affect daily life across Ahmedabad and other parts of Gujarat, forcing hostels, hospitals, restaurants, and community kitchens to cut services, change menus, or switch to traditional cooking methods.

The crisis has particularly hit educational institutions, where several hostel mess facilities have either shut temporarily or reduced operations due to lack of cooking gas. At GMERS Medical College on the Sola Civil Hospital campus, the hostel mess was partially suspended on Friday after LPG cylinders could not be arranged. Around 150 to 300 students who depend on the mess for daily meals were affected. College authorities said lunch service was halted, though arrangements were made to provide dinner later in the evening. Officials added that food for patients at the hospital remains unaffected.

At BJ Medical College in the Civil Hospital campus, the administration has advised student groups and canteen operators to minimise gas usage and install electric induction stoves wherever possible. The college currently runs multiple kitchens serving hundreds of students, and officials said the focus is on ensuring that students do not face inconvenience despite the shortage.

The impact is visible in other hostels as well. The boys’ hostel mess at Gujarat University was temporarily closed, while several private and community hostels have begun modifying menus or switching to alternative fuels. A free hostel run by Bharwad Yuva Sangathan near Sarkhej, where nearly 100 students preparing for government job exams stay, has reduced food preparation due to limited gas supply. The organisation, which normally uses dozens of commercial cylinders each month, has now decided to start cooking on a wood-fired stove to continue meal services.

Mess operators across the city say the shortage has become severe in the last few days, with supply either stopped or available only at very high prices. Some operators claimed that cylinders are being sold in the black market for ₹3,000 to ₹4,000 each. At LD Engineering College, where hundreds of students depend on the hostel mess, cooks have started using traditional chulhas with wood and coal to ensure food is served on time. Mess staff said they now begin cooking two hours earlier than usual because wood-fired cooking takes longer.

Students say the situation could increase their expenses if the crisis continues. Many rely on hostel mess facilities because fixed monthly charges are cheaper than eating outside. If mess services stop, students may have to spend more on food, affecting their budgets and studies.

The commercial LPG shortage has also disrupted the city’s food business. Restaurant operators say thousands of eateries have been affected, with some shutting temporarily and others cutting down their menus to save fuel. Small food stalls and roadside cafes have begun using traditional stoves, while larger establishments are shifting to electric cooking or planning wood-fired setups to keep operations running.

The demand for electric induction stoves and compatible utensils has surged in the market as households, hostels, and food businesses look for alternatives. Utensil traders said sales of induction cooktops, flat-base vessels, and pressure cookers have increased sharply, though prices of these products have not been raised so far despite the sudden demand.

It is learnt that the state government has been informed about the shortage and departments have been asked to ensure that hospitals, hostels, and essential services get priority supply. Authorities have indicated that guidelines may be issued to prevent disruption of food services in government medical colleges and hospitals. DeshGujarat