Commercial LPG shortage linked to West Asia tensions disrupts cafeterias, hotels and workplaces; HCLTech employees in Chennai asked to work from home for two days
New Delhi: The ongoing energy disruption linked to tensions in West Asia has begun affecting workplaces and businesses across India, with IT major HCLTech announcing a temporary work-from-home arrangement for employees due to the growing shortage of commercial LPG cylinders.
Reports indicate that employees at HCLTech’s office in Chennai have been asked to work from home on March 12 and 13, as the shortage of LPG cylinders has disrupted food services in office cafeterias.
The crisis has emerged amid rising global uncertainty in energy supplies following the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States, which has affected crude oil and gas supply chains across several regions.
Hotels and Corporate Cafeterias Hit by Gas Shortage
The shortage has particularly impacted commercial LPG cylinders used by hotels, restaurants and large office cafeterias. Several hotels in Bengaluru have reportedly suspended operations temporarily due to the lack of cooking gas supply.
Corporate offices that depend on daily cafeteria services for employees are also facing operational challenges as commercial cylinders have become both scarce and expensive.
According to reports, companies have started introducing temporary measures to manage food supply disruptions within office campuses.
Infosys Advises Employees to Bring Food from Home
Meanwhile, IT giant Infosys has informed employees working at its offices in Bengaluru that food services have been affected by the LPG shortage.
The company has reportedly suspended live cooking counters in its cafeterias due to limited gas supply.
Employees have been advised to bring home-cooked food or packed meals, and similar instructions have reportedly been issued to staff working at Infosys offices in Chennai.
Companies Activate Emergency Protocols
In response to the situation, several corporate organisations are setting up internal monitoring teams and emergency response groups, often referred to as “war rooms,” to track developments and ensure employee safety and operational continuity.
While companies are implementing contingency plans, the government has maintained that there is currently no major disruption in cooking gas supply across the country.
However, ground reports from several cities suggest that both commercial LPG cylinders and domestic cooking gas have become difficult to obtain in some areas, raising concerns among businesses and households.
Industry observers say that continued instability in global energy markets could further strain supply chains, especially if shipping routes and oil supplies remain affected by the geopolitical tensions in West Asia.
