JAMMU, MAR 12: Picture this—families in Jammu staring at empty stoves, dhabas firing up wood stoves instead of gas, and long queues at every LPG agency. The kitchen gas crunch is turning daily life upside down, with supplies down to a measly one-third, all thanks to the raging Iran-US-Israel war messing with imports from the Gulf.
Reports from folks across Jammu city and beyond paint a grim picture: Gas agency operators say Oil and Gas bigwigs have clamped down hard—no bookings before 25 days from the last refill for homes, and every delivery needs an OTP to make sure it’s going to real users. But that’s small comfort when trucks aren’t even rolling in like before.
Hotels, restaurants, dhabas, tea stalls, and sweet shops are hurting bad. Owners gripe they haven’t seen commercial cylinders in days. Supplies from key plants in Bari Brahmana, Lalru (near Ambala), and Bathinda have slowed to a crawl because of the war chaos. “We’re switching to whatever fuel we can scrounge,” one told reporters, while a gas agency manager whispered off-record: “LPG tankers aren’t hitting Gujarat ports—we used to get three trucks a day, now it’s one if we’re lucky. Backlog’s piling up from the last week.”
Panic buying has folks showing up unannounced at agencies, and complaints are flooding in—no booking texts, no OTPs, no delivery. It’s the same story in Kathua, Udhampur, Samba, Rajouri, Katra, Reasi, R S Pura, Akhnoor—you name it. Even electric induction cooker sales are spiking as desperate households improvise.
Tarsem Lal Gupta from Janipur booked five days back and he’s still waiting: “Used to be next-day stuff!” Rahul Pandoh from Rehari Colony echoes it—no message, no OTP, nothing. A dhaba guy near the bus stand at B C Road fumed that even after a Rs 114 hike on 19kg commercial cylinders three days ago, supplies are zilch. Railway stalls, hostels, caterers—all on the brink.
But officials are pushing back. Director Food, Consumer Affairs and Civil Supplies Jammu, Rifat Kohli, says they met oil company bosses recently and stocks are good for 14 days. “No need to panic—home deliveries are on, and the 25-day rule fights black marketing and hoarding so everyone gets their fair share,” she insisted.
Bharat Gas territorial manager Manoj Kumar denied shortages outright: “We’ve got quota covered, agencies are delivering, and we’re watching for hoarders. Single-cylinder homes wait 25 days, doubles 30. No shortage complaints on commercial side yet,” he said, dodging questions on supply dips or tech glitches.
As the crisis deepens, hotels and eateries warn they might shutter soon, just like other war-hit spots. Will relief come before dinner goes cold?
