Long queues, chaos, disappointment, and exhaustion — this is what many people awaiting a new LPG connection are currently facing at gas agencies across India.
In Hyderabad, a process that typically takes about a week is now stretching to nearly two months, reportedly due to disruptions linked to the ongoing war-like situation.
While the delays are frustrating for those still waiting, they also highlight a larger concern. For households that already have an LPG connection, this moment calls for a pause — and a rethink of how we use cooking gas.
Because when demand surges and panic sets in, it is often lower-income families who feel the impact the most.
At The Better India, we believe small, mindful changes in how we cook and consume can go a long way — not just in conserving fuel, but in ensuring that access remains fair for everyone who depends on it.
Why panic buying hurts the vulnerable
How many of us have already heard our house help say: We are unable to get gas, or a refill is too expensive?
If you have, it means the vulnerable lot has already been affected by the crisis and the panic buying done by higher-income groups.
The lower-income group cannot afford a double-cylinder connection, or stock extra gas for use, or have digital access for quick booking. Photograph: (Shutterstock)
It’s natural for families with children and elderly people to think ahead and be prepared for any kind of crisis. However, panic buying can only create artificial demand, delayed deliveries, and booking backlogs. And this affects lower-income groups — to be precise, our house helps, car cleaners, and sanitary workers are the first to be affected.
The lower-income group cannot afford a double-cylinder connection, or stock extra gas for use, or have digital access for quick booking.
This leads to them borrowing gas from others at high prices; they begin to cook less or skip meals and opt for unsafe options like kerosene or firewood.
This drives us to understand why it is important for us to rethink the use of LPG gas.
Practical ways to save LPG amid the crisis
There are multiple ways to save LPG — using an induction stove to cook, a coffee machine or kettle to make your coffee, or making a sub or sandwich for a meal instead of an elaborate dal, rice, and vegetable meal.
Here are a few tips to make sure everyone consumes gas responsibly:
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Cook only once a day, store, and consume the meal later
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Opt for food that is prepared without fire — steamed eggs, sandwiches, subs, sprouts, fruits, salads, curd rice, and soaked poha
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Reduce flame time with pre-prepared ingredients
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Use a microwave, induction, or rice cooker to make food or heat it
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Share your appliances with friends and family, and opt for solar cooking if possible
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Go for one-pot meals like khichdi, upma, or pulao
While one can choose to follow these suggestions, suggesting the same to our house helpers and cleaners can benefit them in many ways.
Always remember: an extra cylinder in one kitchen may lead to an empty stove in another just a few kilometres away.
How can urban India avoid panic buying?
Urban households can play a crucial role in easing the pressure on LPG supply by making a few mindful choices. Instead of booking refills well in advance “just in case,” it helps to wait until a cylinder is genuinely close to running out.
Avoiding the urge to stockpile multiple cylinders can prevent unnecessary strain on the system, ensuring more equitable access for others.
In times of crisis, it is easy to focus only on our own needs. But the reality is that the choices we make within our kitchens ripple far beyond our homes. Photograph: (Paytm)
Simple steps like coordinating with neighbours, sharing updates, or planning usage collectively can also reduce panic-driven over-ordering.
At its core, it’s about recognising that everyday consumption choices have a wider impact — and that using LPG responsibly can help ensure that those with fewer resources are not left struggling to access a basic necessity.
In times of crisis, it is easy to focus only on our own needs. But the reality is that the choices we make within our kitchens ripple far beyond our homes.
A little restraint, a few conscious adjustments, and a willingness to think of others can make all the difference. Because in a system where supply is shared, responsibility must be shared too.
And sometimes, ensuring that every stove stays lit begins with using a little less flame of our own.
