LPG Supply Disruption in Mumbai; Refill Delays Stretch to 8 Days, Hotels and Restaurants Affected

A disruption in LPG supply has raised serious concerns across Mumbai, with many residents experiencing delays in receiving cooking gas refills while commercial users warn that the situation could soon turn into a major crisis. According to a report by The Times of India, LPG dealers say the shortage is likely a ripple effect of the recent Iran–Israel conflict and the reported attacks involving the United States and Israel on Iran, which have disrupted global supply chains. As a result, the waiting period for domestic LPG cylinder refills has increased significantly—from around two days to as many as eight days after booking.

The situation has been even more challenging for commercial users. LPG dealers revealed that the supply of commercial cylinders, widely used by hotels and restaurants, has been completely halted since Sunday. This has triggered fears that many eateries could soon face operational difficulties if supplies are not restored quickly. The supply disruption has also caused panic among households. Dealers reported a sudden surge in bookings since Monday morning, with many families rushing to secure refills. Several households that maintain two cylinders reportedly visited local dealer outlets to place refill requests in advance.

Adding to the concerns, a new notification from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas now states that domestic consumers can only book a new refill 25 days after receiving a cylinder. Dealers say this is a major shift from the earlier system, where customers could book the next refill within a day or two of receiving a cylinder.

“Fortunately, domestic 14.2 kg cylinders are still available for now,” a suburban dealer said. “However, the supply of commercial LPG cylinders has been completely stopped since Sunday, which could soon create serious problems for hotels and restaurants that rely on large cylinders.” Dealers also warned that the shortage could push some businesses to look for illegal or alternative fuel sources, which could be both unsafe and unlawful.

One dealer suggested that the government should consider allowing commercial supplies to continue, even if it means charging hotels a higher price. Notably, the prices of LPG cylinders were increased recently, with commercial cylinders becoming costlier by ₹115 and domestic cylinders by ₹60 on Sunday.

In areas like Andheri, anxious residents were seen visiting LPG dealer outlets on Monday to ensure their bookings were placed. Some families even considered transporting cylinders themselves amid fears that supplies could soon run out.