Newz Desk, Durgapur: A deepening LPG shortage is beginning to bite hard in the student-dominated pockets of Durgapur, leaving thousands of engineering, management and medical aspirants struggling to cook even one proper meal a day.
Across areas like Fuljhor, Muchipara, Bamunara, Sepco Township, City Centre, Gopalpur and Rajbandh, paying guest (PG) accommodations and rented rooms are witnessing a similar scene. Small, cramped spaces with a cot, a study table stacked with books and coaching materials, and a single-burner stove connected to a 5-kg LPG cylinder form the backbone of student life here. But for many, that lifeline has run dry.
With cylinders running empty since earlier this week, students say they have been forced to survive on minimal, no-cook food. “We have cooked once since Tuesday. We are somehow managing with churra-dahi and sattu,” said Rahul, an engineering aspirant staying in Fuljhor. Like hundreds of others preparing for competitive exams or pursuing professional courses, he depends entirely on a small LPG cylinder for daily cooking.
The shortage comes at a particularly difficult time, with exams, project submissions and coaching schedules in full swing. Students say irregular meals are already affecting their concentration and health. “We attend classes the whole day and come back expecting to cook something simple. But without gas, it’s becoming very difficult,” said a management student living in City Centre.
Local LPG distributors acknowledge delays in supply but attribute the disruption to broader logistical issues. Some point to supply chain disturbances linked to the ongoing tensions in West Asia, which have impacted fuel availability and distribution cycles across regions. However, no official timeline has been given for normalization.
The crisis has also exposed the vulnerability of students who rely on smaller 5-kg cylinders, which are easier to manage in PG accommodations but require more frequent refills. With demand rising and supply lagging, refills are either delayed or unavailable in several areas.
Many students have started pooling resources, sharing meals when possible, or turning to roadside eateries to cope. But that too comes at a cost. “Eating out every day is expensive and not always hygienic. We prefer cooking, but now we don’t have a choice,” said a medical entrance aspirant in Bamunara.
Residents and guardians have urged authorities and oil marketing companies to ensure uninterrupted LPG supply, especially in education hubs like Durgapur where a large floating population depends on timely deliveries.
For now, as the shortage continues, students are left juggling studies and survival, hoping for a quick resolution before the situation worsens further.
