New Delhi: As the Iran-US conflict drags on and disrupts oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, India is staring at a serious LPG shortage that is already pinching kitchens across the country.
With global prices rising and imports getting delayed, a fresh C-Voter survey has thrown up a surprising reality: more than six out of every ten Indians are ready to go back to traditional fuels like gobar (cow dung), wood and chulha if gas cylinders become unavailable or too expensive.
The nationwide snap poll, conducted through phone calls in the third and fourth weeks of March across every state and district, shows that in week three, 68 per cent respondents said they would switch to gobar, chulha and firewood. The figure stood at 66 per cent in the fourth week. Only 15-16 per cent preferred induction or electric cookers, while 7-8 per cent said they would simply eat less hot food. A small 4-5 per cent were open to community kitchens.
Interestingly, nearly half the people (49-50 per cent) admitted they do not have any alternative cooking source ready at home. Yet 32-35 per cent of those without alternatives said they would buy one if needed. The survey carries a margin of error of plus or minus 5 per cent.
This willingness to return to age-old methods highlights how deeply the ongoing fuel crisis — triggered by tension in West Asia — is affecting common households. While the government has taken steps to prioritise domestic supply and urged judicious use, many families are already preparing for tough choices. In villages especially, the shift back to biomass may bring back old issues like smoke and health problems, but for now, survival seems to come first.
The survey sends a clear message: when modern fuel gets scarce, Indians are still deeply connected to traditional ways of cooking. Whether this becomes a long-term trend or a temporary adjustment remains toi be seen, but kitchens across the nation are clearly feeling the heat.