Darjeeling tourism faces threat as LPG shortage forces hotels and eateries to consider closure

REZA PRADHAN

DARJEELING,: Tourist season is approaching in Darjeeling and hotels and restaurants here say they may be forced to shut down as a nationwide shortage of commercial LPG disrupts supplies just days before the start of the peak tourist season.

Commercial LPG cylinder distribution has been halted across India following a shortage of cooking gas caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The limited supply has been prioritised for essential services such as hospitals and schools.

Tourism stakeholders in Darjeeling warn that the situation could severely affect the local hospitality industry.

“We have some cylinders in stock at present but if the crisis continues, we will face a problem soon,” said hotelier Raju Subba. “Food is one of the basic amenities we have to provide tourists in our hotels. Without cooking gas, we will have no option but to shut down.”

Subba said his hotel is still accepting bookings but is uncertain about the coming weeks. “We are just waiting and watching what happens in the coming days and hoping the government will find a solution soon,” he added.

Small businesses are already feeling the pressure. Krishna Gupta, who runs a tea house in the town, said his remaining gas supply would last only a few days.

“At present I only have cooking gas for two or three days. After that I will have to shut down my shop because commercial LPG is no longer available,” he said.

Some restaurants have started switching to alternative methods to continue operations. Rahul Jha, proprietor of the popular Darjeeling eatery Keventers, said his establishment had started using induction cooktops in addition to LPG.

“We are trying to manage with electricity-based induction cooking along with the cylinders we still have,” he said. “But if the shortage continues, it will become a serious problem and affect the tourism industry here as a whole.”

Gas distributors say they have no stock left to supply.

Suman Chettri from Grihalaxmi Gas Agency said the company received a government notice ordering the suspension of commercial cylinder distribution from Monday.

“Essential establishments like schools and hospitals are exempt, but we have nothing left to distribute anyway because whatever supply we had has already been exhausted,” Chettri said.

A staff member at another LPG supply agency said they had not received any new cylinders for more than three days.