On Tuesday evening, when Promod Kumar stood in Noida's Sector 16 frying samosas, there was a sense of uncertainty hanging over him. He wasn't sure if he would be able to open his small food stall the next day. The LPG cylinder he usually bought from the black market had already shot up from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500. Forced by the spike, he had increased the prices of his samosas by 50%. When Promod tried to place the next day's cylinder order with his supplier, the response was uncertain. "I've spoken to someone who might bring one from Ghaziabad. If it doesn't come, then we won't open the shop," he said. "Nearby, around Sector 18's Atta Market, several dhabas and food joints have already begun shutting down," he added.
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The next morning, contrary to his fears, Promod was back at his stall. He was dishing out breakfast, but again at higher prices. "Got a cylinder for Rs 2,300," he said. Promod isn't alone. His neighbour, Shivpal Kumar, had increased the price of a cup of tea from Rs 10 to Rs 15. Shivpal claimed another vendor has hiked it to Rs 20.
Countless food businesses, big and small, are either on the brink of shutting down or have already closed because LPG cylinders are simply not available.
The shutting of eateries or slashing of menu has hit lakhs of gig workers who are losing out on work, according to a labour union. It said the LPG crisis had reduced delivery work by 50-60% in several cities.
The government has tried to reassure people that there were no supply constraints, but the situation on the ground and the panic in mind reveal a
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