Induction cooktops, menus short: How Delhi is dealing with LPG cylinder crunch

Delhi's LPG crisis forces restaurants and households to switch to electric cooking alternatives, causing a surge in demand for induction cooktops.

Published on: Mar 12, 2026, 09:21:06 IST

By Snehil Sinha, Jignasa Sinha, Paras Singh

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

As the LPG crisis deepens across Delhi and supply disruptions intensify, restaurants and households are rapidly adapting their cooking practices – cutting gas usage, altering menus, and turning to electric alternatives such as induction cooktops, which themselves are quickly going out of stock in shops and on online platforms.

A sign at an eatery in Connaught Place informing customers about its downsized menu on Wednesday. (Raj K Raj/HT)

Restaurant associations said that the shortage has begun to significantly impact commercial kitchens, forcing eateries to rethink operations and remove deep-fried items to in an attempt to conserve fuel.

Sandeep Goyale, president of the Delhi chapter of the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), said restaurants are facing a shortfall of around 50% in LPG supply. “The situation is critical. However, most restaurants have managed supply for two days. Till then, we will be monitoring the situation,” Goyale said.

Mehar Tandon, owner of Kashmir Chur Chur Naan by Ram Poori Wale in Paharganj, said the restaurant has stopped serving several popular dishes such as bhatures. “We are open for now but have gas cylinders only for a couple of days. We have stopped offering puri and bhature,” Tandon said.

At Boheme Cafe Bar in Karol Bagh, management said deep-fried dishes have been temporarily taken off the menu. “We are using electric options now but the situation is critical,” the restaurant’s manager said.

At Amaltas in Greater Kailash-2, an official said the establishment is transitioning to electric cooking while trying to secure fresh cylinders.

“We are transitioning to electric mode. When the full transition happens, we may have to cut down on certain dishes. For now, we have been contacting different suppliers and shops but nobody has cylinders available. Within two days, our existing supply may run out,” the official said.

Track Latest Updates on Iran-US war here

Varun Khera, owner of The Imperial Spice in Connaught Place, said his restaurant has bought multiple induction cooktops. “Now our LPG usage has reduced to around 35%,” Khera said.

As households seek alternatives, induction cooktops are vanishing from quick commerce platforms. At least three platforms had cooktops out of stock by Wednesday evening, with electric cookers and rice cookers also unavailable. “After reports of LPG shortage, we bought an induction stove online. A friend couldn’t get it on Blinkit and had to order from Amazon for three-day delivery,” said Shubhra Rai, a Munirka resident.

Rohit Bhasin, owner of Bhasin Appliances in Karol Bagh’s Gaffar Market, said that the demand for induction stoves has skyrocketed. “Earlier, we would only sell one or two a week, but we have sold 15-17 just today.”

“At Croma, we have observed a sharp and immediate uptick in demand for induction cooktops over the past few days. Our average daily run rate has surged significantly,” Infiniti Retail Ltd (Croma) CEO & MD Shibashish Roy said.

An Amazon India spokesperson said on Wednesday, “Over the last two days, sales of induction cooktops have increased 30X, while rice cookers and electric pressure cookers are seeing a 4X increase. Air fryers and multi-use kettles are also seeing a 2X increase in sales over a regular day.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Snehil Sinha
Snehil Sinha is an Assistant Editor with the Delhi Metro bureau of Hindustan Times, where she reports on politics, governance, public policy, urban infrastructure and transport, subjects that shape the everyday lives of millions in the national capital. Over a journalism career spanning 14 years, she has built a reputation for meticulous, data-driven reporting that combines on-ground perspectives with policy analysis. She began her career with The Indian Express before joining Hindustan Times, where she has reported extensively on civic administration and urban governance in Gurugram, Noida and now Delhi. Her reporting is distinguished by its clarity, depth and balance. Whether covering large-scale infrastructure projects, environmental challenges, transport reforms or government policy, she tries to translate complex administrative decisions into accessible, engaging stories without losing nuance. Her work reflects a strong command of public records, official data and field reporting, often connecting policy announcements with their impact on citizens. Her stories go beyond headlines to explain how governance decisions influence the city's growth, mobility and quality of life, making her work an important contribution to informed public discourse.Read More
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jignasa Sinha
Jignasa Sinha is a Special Correspondent at Hindustan Times in New Delhi. With more than six years of reporting experience, she covers crime and policing in the national capital. Her beats also include Delhi prisons, the Delhi Fire Services and Delhi courts, while she regularly reports on gender, labour and social justice. Over the course of her career, Jignasa has reported on major criminal investigations, international crime syndicates, high-profile cyber fraud cases, law-and-order developments, protests, disasters and public institutions. Her reporting combines breaking news with in-depth, long form, human interest stories that examine the human impact of public policy, policing and the criminal justice system. In addition to reporting for the newspaper, she contributes to the Hindustan Times website and app, and plays an active role in coordinating on-ground coverage of major developments and breaking news across Delhi. Before joining Hindustan Times, Jignasa worked at The Indian Express newspaper in New Delhi, where she spent five years covering crime, Delhi airport, courts and health. She began her journalism career as an intern at an AI magazine in Bengaluru while pursuing her postgraduate diploma in multimedia journalism at the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media.Read More
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Paras Singh
Paras Singh is a New Delhi-based journalist with Hindustan Times, where he serves as Deputy Metro Editor. He reports on urban governance, the Delhi government, the Delhi BJP, water management, the environment, communities and city life. He joined Hindustan Times in 2021 after beginning his journalism career at The Times of India in 2016, where he covered civic bodies, the water and power sectors, and urban infrastructure. Over the last decade, some of his reporting has led to significant public impact, with investigations into environmental violations, corruption and illegal industrial activity contributing to multiple judicial interventions by the National Green Tribunal and the Delhi High Court. A graduate of St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi, Paras studied journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), New Delhi. Having extensively covered the capital's evolving civic and governance landscape, his recent work increasingly explores Delhi's history, built heritage, urban evolution and the relationship between people and place, alongside continuing to report on governance and public policy.Read More

Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crickit, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Infographics & much more. Explore now!

Stay updated with all top Cities including, Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai and more across India. Stay informed on the latest happenings in World News along with Delhi Election 2025 and Delhi Election Result 2025 Live, New Delhi Election Result Live, Kalkaji Election Result Live at Hindustan Times.