Bengaluru: The shortage of commercial LPG cylinders has intensified in Bengaluru, forcing some hotel owners to buy cylinders at very high prices.

A hotel owner said he paid Rs 56,000 to purchase eight cylinders as there was no other option during the shortage. The incident highlights the growing crisis of commercial LPG supply in the city.

Sunil, owner of Meenakshi Coffee Bar hotels in Brookefield and Rajajinagar, said his hotels normally receive commercial LPG cylinders regularly. However, due to the current shortage, he had to buy cylinders at a much higher price.

He said the hotels usually use about five cylinders a day, but the demand rises to eight cylinders on weekends when customer numbers increase. Earlier, a commercial cylinder that cost around Rs 1,800 was being purchased for nearly Rs 3,200 after the shortage began.

On Friday night, due to urgent need, Sunil said he bought eight cylinders at Rs 7,000 each, paying a total of Rs 56,000. He added that the hotel requires six to seven cylinders daily to continue operations.

The shortage has also forced many hotels in the city to increase food prices. Some owners said there is competition among buyers to purchase cylinders, with prices rising to Rs 7,000–8,000 per cylinder.

Hotel owners warned that if the shortage continues beyond Wednesday, many hotels in the city may be forced to shut down. Bengaluru has more than 30,000 hotels, and most of them are facing LPG supply issues.

Many hotels have reduced their menu and are serving only limited items such as rice with sambar, idli and chitranna. Smaller hotels are facing financial pressure as they are unable to afford the high cylinder prices.

The Bengaluru Hotels Association has advised hotel owners to manage operations by reducing food items, closing hotels between 12 pm and 2 pm, and shutting early at night until the situation improves.

Association president S. Subrahmanya Holla said several hotel owners are calling the association to ask how they should manage operations if the shortage continues.

He said some hotels have started using electric stoves and firewood for cooking. At the Udupi Krishna Bhavan in Gandhi Bazaar, firewood is being used for cooking, while another hotel in Balepete is using electric cooking equipment.

The LPG shortage has also affected the vegetable market at K. R. Market. Some hotels and canteens have temporarily closed, reducing the demand for vegetables.

Vegetable trader Selvi said many hotel owners used to buy vegetables every morning, but the number of buyers has reduced over the past week due to the cylinder shortage.

Another trader, Perumal, said unsold vegetables are getting spoiled in the heat as demand has dropped.

Trader Venkatesh from Neelasandra said prices of vegetables have also fallen. Beans that earlier sold for Rs 60 per kg are now selling for Rs 40, beetroot prices have dropped from Rs 40 to Rs 20, and cauliflower prices have fallen from Rs 22 to Rs 7 per kg.

Meanwhile, the police have warned people about cyber fraud involving fake gas booking links. Fraudsters are sending links in the name of gas agencies and asking people to book cylinders online. Officials said clicking such links may allow scammers to hack bank accounts and steal money.

The police have advised citizens to remain alert and report any fraud cases by calling the emergency helpline 112.