Half-open shutters: When the breakfast rush turns timid

The local food service economy struggles due to a shortage of gas, triggered by the war in West Asia

- VIVEAT SUSAN PINTO/ ANEES HUSSAIN/ VNARAYANAN/ YARUQHULLAH KHAN

THE MORNING RUSH usually arrives in waves—office workers asking for tea, delivery boys grabbing orders, cooks shouting over the steady hiss of LPG burners. But this morning the rhythm breaks abruptly. The burners are cold. The kettles never whistle. A metal shutter hangs halfway open at the front door. In some places, shutters are down completely, while some eateries are providing limited food options over an induction stove. Still others are making a choice, either breakfast or lunch and no dinner.

Scenes like this have been playing out across cities over the last few days as the local food service economy struggles due to a shortage of gas, triggered by the war in West Asia. While Chennai, among the earliest to flag the crisis last week, is now returning to normalcy, with the Tamil Nadu government announcing a 2-per-unit electricity subsidy on Saturday for eateries and cloud kitchens switching to electric stoves, that isn't the case with cities such as Delhi, Bengaluru or Mumbai.

About 20-30% of restaurants in these metros remain shut, according to industry bodies, with the number likely to rise, if the shortage persists. And every shutdown, whether partial or total, takes its toll on people.