LPG Shortage Hits Catering Industry in Tamil Nadu; Weddings May Be Postponed

The ongoing Iran war and reduced fuel supply have led to a shortage of LPG cylinders, creating serious difficulties for catering companies in Tamil Nadu.

Many catering businesses are struggling to prepare food for weddings and other events that were already booked. Industry members say they are uncertain about how to manage upcoming functions due to the lack of cooking gas.

If the situation worsens, weddings and other events may be postponed, guest numbers reduced, or some functions even cancelled, according to catering companies.

The shortage has also affected marriage halls and food preparation units, forcing some caterers to temporarily switch to traditional firewood stoves. However, many kitchens are designed only for LPG-based cooking, making it difficult to adopt alternative methods.

Some catering firms have reportedly cancelled wedding orders scheduled between March 15 and March 28, stating that the available gas cylinders may not last beyond the end of the week.

Caterers say that using firewood stoves is not always practical, as many chefs lack experience cooking on them and large modern kitchens are not equipped for such setups.

With March 15 and 16 considered auspicious wedding dates, businesses are trying to manage the situation as best as possible.

Families planning events are also worried, as cancelling or postponing ceremonies after inviting hundreds of guests could cause major inconvenience.