Patna: A shortage of cooking gas cylinders triggered by global tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran has begun affecting households and businesses in Bihar, leading to a sharp surge in demand for alternative cooking fuels. As fears of LPG supply disruptions grow, people across several districts are increasingly turning to induction cooktops, coal and firewood to prepare food.
Electronics retailers say the crisis has led to an unprecedented spike in the sale of induction stoves, with demand rising by more than 500 percent in recent days. At the same time, hotels, restaurants and marriage halls have started shifting to traditional cooking methods using coal or wood as commercial gas cylinder supplies have reportedly slowed down.
Induction stove sales surge
A manager at a large electronics retail chain in Patna said the demand for induction cooktops has surged dramatically.
“Earlier, we sold as many induction cooktops in a month as we are now selling in a single day. The demand has increased so much that we are struggling to maintain stock,” he said, adding that the store sold more than 100 induction units in a single day recently.
Retailers said people are buying induction stoves fearing they may not get LPG cylinders for regular cooking. Prices of induction cooktops currently range between Rs 2,000 and Rs 4,000, though some shops reported slight price increases due to rising demand.
Sunil Kumar, a resident who purchased an induction stove in Patna, said he had no other option after failing to get a gas cylinder.
“I booked a cylinder but the gas agency refused delivery, saying there is no stock. Some people are asking for Rs 2,500 for a cylinder in the black market. I bought an induction stove so that cooking at home can continue,” he said.
Marriage halls change menus
The gas shortage has also begun affecting the catering and hospitality sector. Several marriage halls in Patna said they are either modifying their menus or shifting to wood and coal-based cooking.
At Aghor Kamini Sabhagar banquet hall on Budh Marg, staff member Sunny Kumar said the venue is currently completing previously booked events but may stop providing catering services if gas supplies run out.
“We are informing customers that we may not be able to provide catering services. We can provide the venue, but food arrangements may have to be managed separately,” he said.
He added that even if the kitchen shifts to coal, the menu would have to be reduced significantly.
“Not every dish can be cooked on coal. If we shift completely, we may reduce the menu from 15 items to about 10. Live counters such as fresh rotis, chaat and hot gulab jamun require gas. Cooking them on coal would create too much smoke, which is not suitable for indoor events,” Kumar explained.
Fuel prices rise sharply
The sudden shift away from LPG has also increased demand for firewood and coal, pushing prices up.
At Swatantrata Senani Banquet Hall on Daroga Rai Path in Patna, manager Santosh Kumar said they have already started cooking with firewood.
“We have to complete bookings already taken, so we have no option but to switch to wood. Earlier, firewood cost around Rs 5 per kilogram. Now it is selling for Rs 20 per kilogram. Coal prices have also increased from about Rs 20 to Rs 60 per kilogram,” he said.
According to him, cooking a meal that earlier cost about Rs 3,000 in fuel now requires nearly Rs 10,000.
At New Patna Club, staff member Kundan Kumar said the venue has bookings scheduled until November, but the gas shortage is creating serious operational difficulties.
“At present we have gas stock for about a week. After that we will also shift to coal and firewood. Our menu normally includes around 50 items, but it may be reduced to about 25 if gas is not available,” he said.
Coal and firewood demand jumps
Fuel vendors across the city say demand has increased several times.
Amit Kumar, a fuel seller in Patna, said coal stocks have already run out. “Our coal supplier is not even answering calls because demand is extremely high. Some restaurants are buying up to three quintals of coal at once,” he said.
He added that firewood sales have jumped from about 10 kilograms per day earlier to nearly 200 kilograms per day now.
Situation in Muzaffarpur
A similar trend is visible in Muzaffarpur, where people are increasingly buying firewood, coal and even cow dung cakes for cooking.
At Chhata Chowk, Sarita Devi, who sells firewood and dung cakes, said demand has surged. “Firewood is selling for about Rs 25 per kilogram, and I am selling three dung cakes for Rs 10,” she said.
Avinash Prasad Verma, who runs Verma Cold Depot in Maripur, said coal demand has also increased. “Coal is selling for around Rs 20 per kilogram and is mostly being purchased by hotels and roadside eateries,” he said.
Electronics shop staff in the city said induction cooktop stocks are nearing exhaustion due to the sudden spike in sales.
Mohammed Afroz, who works at an electronics shop near Kalambagh Chowk, said sales have multiplied. “Earlier we sold only five or six induction stoves in a month. Now we sell seven to eight every day. In the last two days, our stock has almost run out,” he said.
Coal stoves used for police mess in Begusarai
In Begusarai, the gas shortage has forced even institutional kitchens to switch to traditional fuel.
At the police lines, meals for 243 trainee constables are now being prepared on coal and wood stoves by members of a self-help group known as Jeevika Didis.
Rani Devi, one of the cooks, said preparing food on wood takes longer. “We have to start work an hour earlier, around 5:30 in the morning. It becomes very hot because of the fire, but we still have to ensure food is ready for the trainees,” she said.
Kitchen worker Shambhu Poddar said the kitchen earlier used LPG cylinders but has now shifted completely to coal.
“We have built five coal furnaces. Thirty-one women work here in two shifts to prepare meals for the trainees,” he said, adding that lighting coal stoves takes nearly an hour, whereas cooking could begin immediately with gas.
Shortage intensifies in Purnia
In Purnia district, the demand for coal and firewood has increased nearly fivefold as hotels, restaurants and event organisers shift away from LPG.
Pintu Kumar, who runs a firewood shop at Rajni Chowk, said sales have jumped sharply. “Earlier we sold about two quintals of firewood daily. Now more than 10 quintals are sold every day. Demand is so high that supply is becoming difficult,” he said.
Coal trader Manoj Kumar Sinha said his daily sales have increased from around 50 kilograms to more than two quintals.
Mayank Singh, another coal vendor in the area, said hotels and banquet hall operators are making advance bookings for coal.
Even small businesses are adapting. Tea stall owner W Sah near the bus stand said he recently bought a clay stove and started using coal and wood.
“Earlier I used about one kilogram of LPG daily. Now I need nearly five kilograms of wood or coal for the entire day,” he said.
Residents waiting for LPG cylinders are also turning to traditional fuels. Mohammad Raja, who was purchasing firewood, said he had booked a gas cylinder 10 days ago but had not received delivery yet.
“Since the cylinder has not arrived, we are cooking food on a wood stove at home,” he said.
