The LPG crisis in Punjab has reached a critical tipping point as new data reveals a widening gap between skyrocketing demand and a shrinking supply chain. While consumers face weeks of waiting, the state’s commercial sector—including hotels, restaurants and small industries—is facing an unprecedented shutdown of fuel supplies.​The scale of the crisis is becoming clear as distributors highlight the disconnect between the state’s consumer base and current stock.Punjab currently has approximately 96 lakh LPG connections. Over the last two months, the average supply has hovered around 27 lakh refills per month.​While consumer demand has surged by 25-30 per cent (partly due to panic booking and seasonal needs), actual supply has been slashed by 25 per cent.​Dealers are now demanding an urgent roadmap from the government on how this massive gap will be bridged, as the current inventory is insufficient to meet even basic domestic requirements.​The most alarming development for Punjab’s economy is the total halt of commercial gas. Reports confirm that no commercial refills have been dispatched for the last 12 days.​In cities like Ludhiana and Amritsar, restaurants and dhabas are being forced to pivot to traditional wood-fired chullahs, electric inductions or expensive diesel burners to stay operational.With 980 agencies facing thousands of pending domestic bookings and zero commercial stock, distributors are bearing the brunt of public anger, with some reporting physical confrontations at agency gates.​Despite the Union Government’s claims of having a 74-day buffer stock, the Federation of LPG Distributors of Punjab has labelled the situation a “manufactured crisis.”Federation President Gurpal Singh Mann alleged that bottling plants are intentionally operating below capacity. He suggested the shortage might be a calculated move to pressure the public toward Piped Natural Gas (PNG) or to benefit private players who are unaffected by the same supply constraints.​As the Punjab Assembly passes resolutions condemning the energy shortage, the focus shifts to the Central Government to restore the supply chain. Dealers have warned that without an immediate surge in dispatches, the backlog will become unmanageable by the end of the month.The authorities in Indian Oil Corporation declined to make any official comment.”We, the authorities in the state are not allowed to make any official comment,” said a senior functionary in Indian Oil in Chandigarh. He admits the crisis. Escalated by panic among the people.Previously the LPG filling plants were operational on Sunday and holidays but now fir the last two days, the plant were not operational, said the dealers.