India’s food delivery ecosystem is beginning to feel the impact of the ongoing West Asia conflict, with delivery agents reporting a drastic fall in daily orders due to a shortage of commercial LPG cylinders used by restaurants and cloud kitchens.
Across several cities, gig workers say their order volumes have dropped sharply as eateries struggle to procure cooking gas. Many delivery partners who earlier handled around 30–40 orders a day are now receiving barely 5–10 orders, significantly affecting their earnings.
Restaurants Struggle as LPG Supply Tightens
The crisis stems from disruptions in global energy supply chains caused by the escalating Iran war, which has affected shipping routes and LPG availability. The shortage is particularly severe for commercial cylinders used by restaurants, hotels, and food businesses, forcing many establishments to reduce menus or temporarily shut down operations.
Cities such as Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata have reported shortages, with eateries finding it difficult to maintain normal operations due to irregular gas supplies.
Some restaurants have even begun removing popular dishes like dosa, puri, and full meals from their menus, while others have halted cooking entirely until gas supplies stabilize.
Delivery Agents Face Income Collapse
For gig workers who depend on food delivery platforms for their livelihood, the shortage is translating directly into reduced income. Many delivery partners say they now spend hours waiting for orders that never arrive. The drop in demand has been particularly severe in areas dominated by cloud kitchens and small restaurants that rely heavily on LPG for cooking.
Worker unions have warned that if the situation continues, thousands of gig workers may struggle to meet daily expenses. Some groups have even demanded financial relief for affected delivery personnel.
Global Energy Crisis Behind the Shortage
The shortage is closely tied to the ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia. Shipping disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz a key route for global energy supplies have slowed the movement of oil and gas shipments worldwide.
India imports a significant portion of its LPG, and any disruption in these supply routes can quickly impact the availability of commercial cylinders across the country.
To prevent panic, the government has prioritized LPG supply for household consumers while monitoring distribution closely and advising citizens not to engage in panic booking.
Businesses Turn to Alternatives
As the shortage deepens, many food businesses are exploring alternative cooking options such as induction stoves and traditional fuel methods. Demand for induction cooktops has surged, with some online platforms reporting items going out of stock.
Industry experts warn that if supply disruptions continue, the ripple effects could spread further across India’s massive food delivery and hospitality sectors. For now, delivery workers remain among the hardest hit watching their daily orders drop dramatically as the LPG crisis unfolds.
