Chandigarh: A shortage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has created anxiety across Punjab as thousands of families preparing for weddings struggle to secure cooking fuel. The disruption, linked to supply issues amid the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, threatens to affect catering arrangements during the peak marriage season in the state.
According to industry estimates, more than 10,000 weddings are scheduled to take place across Punjab in the coming days. However, the sudden halt in the supply of commercial LPG cylinders since late Monday night has left caterers, banquet halls, and families rushing to arrange fuel for large-scale cooking.
Members of the Punjab Marriage Palace and Resort Association said the development came without prior warning. Association representative Sukhdev Singh Sidhu stated that operators of marriage palaces and catering services were caught off guard and are now exploring ways to manage the situation. A meeting of association members is being planned to discuss possible alternatives.
Families in the midst of wedding preparations say the uncertainty has added unexpected stress. In Patiala, a resident preparing for his sister’s wedding said caterers had asked the family to arrange additional gas cylinders as a precaution. With guests already arriving, he said relatives have been visiting gas agencies and contacting acquaintances to secure spare cylinders.
The shortage has also led to reports of panic buying and stockpiling in some areas. Hotel and restaurant operators are worried that prolonged supply disruptions could affect their operations, as most establishments now rely on commercial LPG instead of traditional coal-based stoves.
Amarbir Singh, president of the Punjab Hotel and Restaurant Association, said most hotels currently have fuel reserves that can last three to five days. However, he warned that the real impact could become visible if the shortage continues beyond a week. He advised businesses to consider temporarily returning to conventional cooking methods if needed.
The situation has been particularly challenging for elderly residents living alone, many of whom have reported difficulties booking domestic cylinders. Consumers say booking helplines remain busy and some gas agencies have been unable to process requests due to technical issues.
Responding to the concerns, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas stated that domestic LPG supply to households remains the government’s top priority. Authorities have introduced a 25-day interval between bookings for domestic cylinders in an effort to prevent hoarding and black-marketing.
Devaashish Kanojiya, a sales officer with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, said there was no need for panic. He noted that the LPG bottling plant in Lalru is functioning normally and that new measures such as electronic KYC verification and Delivery Authentication Codes have been introduced to streamline distribution and eliminate duplicate consumers.
Despite these assurances, some residents say the situation on the ground remains confusing. A former banker, Brij Bhushan Goyal, claimed that attempts to book cylinders online and at local agencies had failed due to server issues, leaving many consumers waiting for hours.
Meanwhile, former Olympian and gas agency operator Hardeep Singh Grewal urged the public to avoid stockpiling cylinders and use cooking gas responsibly. He appealed to residents to follow the principles of sharing and moderation during the crisis.
Distributors say they are following government directives. Gurpreet Singh Brar of the All-India LPG Distributors Federation confirmed that supply of commercial cylinders has been temporarily stopped in compliance with official instructions.
District authorities have also appealed for calm. Varjeet Walia, Deputy Commissioner of Patiala, said residents facing booking or delivery issues can contact the district administration or the Food and Supplies Department for assistance.
As the wedding season gathers pace, families and businesses alike are hoping that the supply situation stabilises soon to prevent further disruption to celebrations across the state.
