Hyderabad gas shortage hits orphanages, star hotels
HYDERABAD: Service organisations running orphanages and old-age homes in the city are facing hardship due to a week-long shortage of cooking gas cylinders. Nearly 300 such shelters operate across the city, providing care to abandoned elderly persons and children separated from their parents.
With cylinders not supplied on time and black-market purchases unaffordable, administrators say they are struggling to continue daily operations.
Breakfasts dropped, menu reduced to save cooking gas
To conserve fuel, shelters have reduced the number of meals and stopped serving breakfast items such as idli, dosa and upma. Residents now survive on reduced portions. Earlier meals included dal, curry and curd. Many shelters now serve only rasam and chutney.
Some institutions have begun buying firewood in areas such as Asif Nagar to manage cooking needs.
Peddi Shankar of the ‘Ready to Serve’ old-age home in LB Nagar said more than 50 elderly persons live in two facilities run by his voluntary organisation. “We organise free meal distribution near hospitals every Sunday. The gas shortage has become severe over the past week. Our reserves will run out soon, and we do not know what will happen next,” he said. The organisation has decided to suspend food distribution drives and reduce the number of dishes served.
Star hotels cut buffet counters amid West Asia conflict
The shortage has also affected star hotels in Greater Hyderabad. Owing to disruptions linked to the conflict in West Asia, hotels have reduced menu options and temporarily halted live counters and buffet services. Many establishments now prepare nearly 60 per cent of dishes using boilers and induction stoves.
Some hotels have introduced a “war menu”, offering fewer main-course items and more salads. Non-vegetarian meals include two or three gravies, while vegetarian spreads are limited to one fried item, roti, chutney, dal and sambar. Grilled chicken and mutton kebabs are being prepared on charcoal. A hotel representative told reporters that the industry is focusing on alternative fuels to manage operations.
