The commercial LPG shortage across Kolkata and its districts has reached a critical stage, forcing iconic food hubs like Decars Lane to consider shutting down. Many shopkeepers are reporting that despite offering as much as ₹3,000, they are unable to secure a single cylinder. This has forced owners to severely cut down their menus, with many shops switching to coal stoves or simply stopping production.

The crisis has hit every corner of the state; in South Avenue, tea stalls have stopped serving snacks like samosas and nimki, while hotels in Raniganj and Medinipur warn that their remaining stocks will run out in days. The impact has extended to community kitchens and schools, where menus are being drastically simplified to save fuel. At Gariahat’s community kitchen, side dishes like soybean curry have been dropped to focus on boiling rice and dal together. As schools struggle to manage mid-day meals with limited options, the ongoing fuel famine has sparked widespread panic among business owners and authorities alike.