Mangaluru: The coastal city of Mangaluru is currently grappling with a severe shortage of LPG cylinders, pushing the local hotel industry into a state of crisis. The disruption in supply has forced many hotel owners to either scale down their operations or shut down temporarily, recreating an atmosphere of uncertainty reminiscent of the COVID-19 lockdown days.
Hotel Industry Severely Affected
The scarcity of commercial gas cylinders has left hoteliers struggling to maintain their daily business. Without adequate fuel, it has become nearly impossible to prepare a full menu. As a result:
Limited Food Availability: Most functional hotels are only serving a limited number of dishes, unable to cater to the full range of their regular menu.
Temporary Closures: Due to the exhaustion of gas stocks, several small and medium-sized eateries have already pulled down their shutters.
Echoes of the Lockdown Era
The current situation is bringing back haunting memories of the pandemic-induced lockdowns. While those lockdowns were due to government regulations, the present crisis—driven by resource scarcity—is having a similar impact on public life. The sight of closed hotels and limited service has sparked anxiety among the residents.
Common Man’s Struggle
The impact is most visible among those who depend heavily on hotels for their daily meals.
Struggle for Food: Joint families, bachelors living in the city, and tourists are seen wandering from one place to another in search of food.
Crowded Eateries: The few hotels that remain open are witnessing heavy rushes, with people struggling to get even basic meals due to high demand and limited supply.
Summary:
The Mangaluru hotel industry is in dire straits due to the gas cylinder shortage. If the authorities and suppliers do not intervene immediately to restore the supply chain, the situation is likely to worsen, further affecting both business owners and the common public.
Report By:Mohammad Haneef (Vision Graphics)
