‘No gas for 4 days’: Meerut govt hospital cook uses makeshift stove, officials clash over LPG shortage claim

BAREILLY: A cook at Meerut District Hospital has alleged that there has been a shortage of LPG cylinders for the past four days, forcing staff to prepare food for patients on makeshift stoves (chulhas).

A purported video of the cook, who wished to remain anonymous, surfaced online on Thursday.In the video, the cook can be seen preparing food within a makeshift enclosure, using wood and cardboard collected from open areas as fuel. He said, “There has been a shortage of LPG cylinders for four days, due to which we are compelled to cook food in this manner.”Two senior authorities countered each other's claim. CMO claimed that a shortage came to light on Thursday, while District Supply Officer (DSO) refuted the allegations.

Chief Medical Officer Ashok Kataria told TOI, “The matter came to light on Thursday. After speaking to the District Supply Officer, the issue has been resolved.” District Supply Officer Vinay Kumar Singh told TOI, “The claim is baseless and fabricated. There is no shortage of LPG. It should be verified whether a refill was even booked. However, I received a call from the CMO, who said they require one cylinder per day to cook food for patients, and the supply has been provided accordingly.”

It is being alleged that India is facing an LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) supply disruption amid the ongoing U.S.–Israel–Iran conflict, which has affected traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.This crucial maritime choke point accounts for nearly 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports, making the country highly vulnerable to prolonged disruptions in the region.