The ongoing turmoil in the Middle East has triggered a severe shortage of LPG cylinders across India, deeply affecting essential services in Kolkata. Prestigious institutions like the Presidency University and RG Kar Medical College are currently facing critical gas supply disruptions.

Institutional Crisis: The historic Hindu Hostel, housing 120 Presidency University students, has seen its kitchen operations come to a standstill for the past two days, forcing students to rely on expensive external food sources. Similarly, while patient kitchens at RG Kar Medical College remain functional for now, nursing and student hostels are facing acute shortages. Authorities have been alerted, but there are growing fears that services may collapse entirely if supply chains are not restored within the next 48 hours.

Central Government’s Directives: To stabilize the fuel supply chain and ensure transparency, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas issued an important advisory on March 10. The government has made eKYC mandatory for all domestic LPG consumers. Officials state that completing this process will ensure that subsidies and supply records are accurate, thereby reducing the scope for black-marketing during this period of global fuel volatility. All consumers are urged to complete their eKYC immediately to ensure uninterrupted service.