The new study found that a Mediterranean diet rich in vegetables, berries, nuts and olive oil could also reduce the risk of dementia.

People whose diet contained lots of vegetables, fruit, nuts, fish, beans, olive oil and poultry plus a “moderate intake” of wine, while limiting red meat, fried foods and sweets, were analysed.

The diet was linked to less brain tissue loss over time, especially grey matter, and less “ventricular enlargement”, which is a marker of brain ageing.

The researchers wrote that “grey matter atrophy and ventricle volume enlargement are well-established markers of brain ageing”, adding that grey matter “plays a key role in memory, learning and decision making” while ventricular enlargement reflects tissue loss.

They concluded that “foods rich in antioxidants, such as berries, and high-quality protein sources like poultry, may reduce oxidative stress and mitigate neuronal damage”.

“Conversely, fast fried foods, often high in unhealthy fats, trans fats and advanced glycation end-products, may contribute to inflammation and vascular damage,” they wrote.

Writing in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, experts analysed data from 1,647 people with an average age of 60.

They looked at their adherence to the “Mind” diet, which stands for the Mediterranean-Dash Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay.

It is designed to support brain health and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, and includes many plant-based, antioxidant-rich foods while limiting saturated fats and added sugars.

All people in the study completed food frequency questionnaires and had at least two brain MRI scan assessments.

During an average monitoring period of 12 years, as people got older, they displayed loss of brain matter alongside other markers of brain loss.

But those who stuck to the diet most closely had slower grey matter shrinkage and loss.

Each three-point increase in adherence to the diet was linked with slower loss, equivalent to 20% less age-related decline and two-and-a-half years of delayed brain ageing, the study found.

Similarly, each three-point increase was associated with slower expansion of total ventricular volume, equivalent to 8% less tissue loss and one year of delayed brain ageing.

The findings also suggested that benefits were greater in older people and those who were active and not overweight, suggesting that combined lifestyle approaches may have a significant effect.

Reacting to the study, Dr Jacqui Hanley, head of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “Taken together with earlier evidence, the findings add to growing indications that eating a balanced diet, staying active and taking other healthy steps may support our brain health as we age.

“More long‑term studies in diverse groups are still needed to untangle the role of diet, genetics and other factors.”

Recommended reading:

Greggs to reveal trading amid pressure from cost of living and weight loss drugs

Boots launches first high street service for weight loss jabs

Brits issued £26,000 garden fence warning this spring

Professor Catey Bunce, statistical ambassador at the Royal Statistical Society, said: “As with many observational studies, the results are interesting and may point to possible associations, but they should not be interpreted as definitive evidence that the diet directly prevents brain ageing.”

Michelle Dyson, chief executive of the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “The Lancet Commission, which was part funded by Alzheimer’s Society, found nearly half of dementia cases globally are linked to modifiable risk factors – things that can be changed either on an individual or societal level – and could potentially be prevented or delayed.

“Continuing to grow our understanding of risk, and encouraging people to quit smoking, keep physically active, eat a healthy balanced diet, control blood pressure and drink less alcohol can all help reduce the risk of dementia.”

The cafe was an off-shoot of a takeaway loved by Michelin, 6,000 miles away in Hong Kong

A popular Bury café is saying farewell to Greater Manchester after two years of calling it home. Nestled in a row of terraced houses, LOJO Mate came to prominence early last year as an inconspicuous dining spot serving up dishes from thousands of miles away.

Established in 2024, it was an off-shoot of highly rated takeaway called Sai Kwan Lo Jo, which was established over 6,000 miles away in Hong Kong. Operating for several years, the original spot specialised in food from China’s Guangdong’s Xiguan region, such as hand-made lai fun noodles and sticky rice dumplings.

For three years it consistently made it onto the Michelin Guide’s prestigious Bib Gourmand list. But then it suddenly closed with its owners called it quits on its takeaway citing the pandemic, closures happening around them and a period of low earnings.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. And don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

However, one of its founders decided to up sticks and move to the UK, landing in Bury, where he established LOJO Mate with a focus on Hong Kong-inspired dishes. Run only by Alex, the café situated on Tottington Road seated no more than 12 people and had a WhatsApp reservation system, served up amazing bowls of char siu – otherwise known as ‘Sorrowful Rice of Ecstasy’.

Over the weekend though, Alex confirmed to customers via a social media post that he was bidding farewell to Manchester. “Two years in Manchester. Time for the next chapter. Thank you to all our char siu lovers. See you soon…in another city,” he wrote on Instagram over the weekend.

Advertisement

Many of the cafes dishes were made to order, and its menu spanned classics from its original Sai Kwan including noodles, rice dumplings and cheesy rice pops, to Lo Jo special rice bowls featuring an array of ingredients such as SPAM sticks, pork chop and scrambled egg.

Illustrating the British crossover, he also served up traditional Hong Kong Breakfast with soup-based pasta and ham, a all-day meal with noodles, eggs, butter and toast as well an English fry up. Snacks included sandwiches, French fries, deep-fried chicken leg, Hong Kong French toast, as well as the much-loved char siu.

Reacting to the post that Lo Jo Mate was no more in Bury, one customer wrote: “I travelled there from London and really loved your place. All the best with your next project.”

Another wrote: “Never even got the chance to try in Manchester! Long shot, but please move to Glasgow.”

While a number of customers shared where they think Alex should head to next, including Leeds, London and Bristol, the café owner is remaining tight-lipped about the future of Lo Jo Mate, though he confirmed to the Manchester Evening News that it will reopen in a new location, which will be confirmed soon.

“Creates a cosy, ambient atmosphere as the sun sets. Perfect for patios, porches or al fresco parties.”

With brighter skies and milder temperatures on the horizon, thoughts are turning towards refreshing our gardens for spring. Outdoor lighting can add ambience to your garden, and we’ve discovered how Argos customers can get their hands on the Home Solar Flickering Candle Lantern completely free through a new deal.

Via savvy deals website TopCashback, new members of the site can snap up the lights for free by signing up via this unique link. Even if you’re an existing member of TopCashback and Argos you can still get the product for free by signing up as well.

The Argos website describes the product as follows: “Light up evenings in the garden with our flickering Solar Candle Lantern. Bathe in the glow of up to 6 hours of LED candlelight when fully charged. Suspend the stylish black cage by its handle to add a warm welcoming glow to any outdoor space. Creates a cosy, ambient atmosphere as the sun sets. Perfect for patios, porches or al fresco parties.”

Advertisement

Complete features of the lantern include:

• Composition: plastic.
• Solar powered.
• No wiring required.
• Automatically turns on at dusk.
• 6 hours run time if fully charged.
• 48 hours of full sun light required to fully charge battery.
• Battery is recharged via the solar panel.
• Requires AA x 1 battery(included) .
• LED bulb (included).
• Size H36, W18, D18cm.
• Assembly required.

Meanwhile on Amazon, these Festoon LED lights have been discounted to £24.99 (prices correct at time of publication), reports the Liverpool Echo.

For something a bit different, Dunelm stocks these Floral 10 LED Solar Festoon String Lights priced at £12, which are solar-powered. They feature warm white LEDs providing a ‘soft and decorative’ aesthetic.

In the Argos reviews for the Solar Candle Lantern, one customer commented: “Good size and stylish for the patio with warm a glow.”

Another review stated: “Lovely lamp with candle.”

However, one shopper did express concerns about the lantern’s colour in their review, saying: “Bought two to hang in the patio alongside other solar fence lights. Good size and looks the part, however as the light is a very orangey glow, it contrasted too much against the white fence lights and wasn’t bright enough for the purpose, so had to return both.”

How to get Argos garden lights for free

• To claim the new member bonus, new members of TopCashback need to sign up via the TopCashback website.
• Search for Argos click ‘Get Cashback Now’.
• Shop and checkout as usual.
• Cashback will then track and appear in your TopCashback account within seven working days of your purchase.

Want to see more of the stories you love from Belfast Live? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. To add Belfast Live as a preferred source, simply click here.

Noa-Rose became critically ill with meningitis B despite veing vaccinated

A mum has shared her terrifying ordeal after her daughter was struck down by meningitis despite being fully vaccinated. Emma Alderman said her daughter Noa-Rose became critically ill after what began as a completely normal day.

The now seven-year-old complained of pain in her legs before falling asleep on the sofa. When Emma, 41, checked on her just 30 minutes later, she noticed she had a high temperature and a rash on her thigh. “It started so suddenly,” said Emma, from Cefn Fforest, Caerphilly.

“She’s been playing in the park with my husband that morning and was absolutely fine. When she came home, she began complaining of pain in her legs. Noa-Rose fell asleep on the sofa and when I checked on her, she had developed a high temperature, her hands and feet were cold, and a rash had appeared on her thigh. It quickly spread to her shoulder and stomach.”

Emma and husband Scott, 47, rushed the girl to the hospital where she was diagnosed with Meningococcal Meningitis Type B, whooping cough and flu. Doctors said that if Emma hadn’t acted so quickly, it could have been fatal.

Emma said: “Her little body was taking an enormous hit. We knew she was seriously unwell, but we never imagined meningitis. She had received all her vaccinations, including her booster just eight weeks earlier.

“When we heard the word meningitis, we were terrified. I knew how fast it can become fatal. Doctors told us that bringing her in when we did saved her life. If we had waited, she would not have survived.

“They didn’t say what caused it, just that it was an isolated case.”

Despite pulling through since the scary ordeal in December 2022, Noa-Rose has been left with long-term health complications including epilepsy. She has two seizures a month.

The youngster is still undergoing tests and there is a possibility she may require brain surgery in the future. Emma said: “She takes daily medication and life is very different for her now. She has frequent hospital appointments and her bedroom has a camera, a seizure mattress and epilepsy alarm.

“No child should be governed by a medication schedule. My message to anyone who suspects meningitis is simple, be decisive, go to hospital and get checked. Meningitis progresses incredibly fast and can be fatal within hours.

“Knowing the signs and symptoms can save a life. I absolutely know what the families in Kent are going through. My heart goes out to everyone impacted by the outbreak. We know only too well how stressful and uncertain this time is for them all.”

Since the ordeal, Emma has become a community volunteer, helping to raise awareness of the disease and its symptoms. The family has also taken part in a series of fundraising challenges.

Her husband climbed Mont Blanc, raising around £2,500, while Emma organised community events including a Halloween party and a festive fundraiser. In their most recent challenge, Noa-Rose herself climbed Pen y Fan, the highest peak in South Wales, raising more than £5,000.

Emma added: “Throughout our journey, we have been supported by Meningitis Now. They have been helping families for 40 years and have contributed £13 million towards vaccine research. Their support has meant everything to us.

“We wanted to give something back. Our purpose is not only to raise funds, but to raise awareness, so no family ever has to experience what we did.”

HONG KONG (AP) — Shares advanced Wednesday in Europe and Asia as oil prices fell back slightly despite a barrage of attacks by Iran on its Gulf neighbors.

U.S. futures rose 0.5% after a session of moderate gains on Wall Street ahead of the Federal Reserve’s decision on interest rates later in the day. With higher oil prices feeding into other inflation, the Fed is widely expected to keep rates on hold.

Worries over global oil and gas supplies and rising prices are still clouding global markets, though Brent crude, the international standard, fell slightly to $103.14 per barrel, down from above $106 on Monday.

U.S. benchmark crude fell 1.6% to $94.67 per barrel.

Iran lashed out Wednesday with multiple attacks on its Gulf neighbors and Israel following the killing of one of its top leaders in an airstrike, using some of its latest missiles to evade air defenses and killing two near Tel Aviv.

But markets seem to have taken the latest escalations in stride.

Germany’s DAX rose 0.7% to 23,899.71 and the CAC 40 in Paris picked up 0.9% to 8,045.19. Britain’s FTSE 100 edged 0.2% higher to 10,427.12.

During Asian trading, Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 gained 2.9% to 55,239.40 after the government reported exports were higher than expected in February.

In South Korea, the Kospi jumped 5% to 5,925.03.

Lower oil prices are a boon for big oil importers like Japan and South Korea.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng reversed early losses, surging 0.6% to 26,025.42, while the Shanghai Composite index also rebounded, gaining 0.3% to 4,062.98.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 climbed 0.3% to 8,640.60.

Taiwan’s Taiex added 1.5% and India’s Sensex advanced 1%.

Global oil flows remain largely constrained, ING Bank analysts Warren Patterson and Ewa Manthey wrote in a research note on Wednesday, even as hopes were growing that Iran might be allowing more vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global oil and gas transport.

Roughly a fifth of the world’s crude oil passes through the strait, which has been largely closed as Iran blocks ships linked to the U.S., Israel and their allies.

On Tuesday, U.S. stocks held steadier as the S&P 500 rose 0.3% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged 0.1% higher. The Nasdaq composite added 0.5%.

In other dealings early Wednesday, the U.S. dollar fell to 158.96 Japanese yen from 159.01 yen. The euro fell to $1.1536 from $1.1542.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that, as of 5pm on Tuesday, some 20 cases of meningitis had been reported to it, up from 15 previously.

Of these, nine cases have been confirmed in the lab and 11 remain under investigation.

Six of the confirmed cases have been confirmed as the meningitis B strain.

A statement said: “All those affected who are currently linked to the outbreak are young adults.

“UKHSA is aware of a baby with confirmed meningococcal group B infection who is not currently linked to the outbreak but UKHSA will continue to investigate this case.”

GPs across the country have now been told to prescribe antibiotics to anyone who visited a nightclub in Canterbury from March 5-7, plus students from the University of Kent.

This is to ensure anyone who has left campus can make sure they get the right treatment.

The UKHSA said: “This is a rapidly evolving situation and there may be further cases as those with symptoms are encouraged to seek medical advice.

“Antibiotics remain the most effective treatment to limit the spread of invasive meningococcal disease.

“So far, over 2,500 doses have been given to students, close contacts and others, including some of those who attended Club Chemistry between March 5-7.

“GPs across the country will today be advised to prescribe antibiotics to anyone who visited Club Chemistry between March 5-7 and to University of Kent students, if they have been asked to seek preventative treatment.

“This is so that anyone who has travelled home, or away from Kent, can easily access this important preventative treatment close to them.”

Trish Mannes, UKHSA regional deputy director for the South East, said antibiotics are “the main intervention that will help protect people and halt the spread of the outbreak”.

She added: “As a further precaution and together with the NHS, we are beginning to roll out a targeted menB vaccination programme.

“This will initially be offered to 5,000 University of Kent students resident at the Canterbury campus, with the possibility that it may be extended, as it is kept under continual review.

“If you think you may have symptoms of meningitis, don’t hesitate to seek medical help by contacting your GP or calling NHS 111.

“Seeking early treatment can save lives.”

Two students have died during the outbreak, including 18-year-old Juliette Kenny, who was studying for her A-Levels.

The number of cases is expected to rise because the incubation period for the infection to when symptoms appear is two to 14 days.

The outbreak is being viewed by experts as unprecedented owing to the high number of cases appearing in such a short space of time.

A meeting of local Integrated Care Board officials and UKHSA regional staff is taking place on Wednesday morning, with an announcement expected later on the vaccine rollout.

The UKHSA stressed there is plenty of NHS stocks of menB vaccines after pharmacies reported they were struggling to obtain stock for people who want to pay privately.

A UKHSA spokeswoman told the Press Association on Wednesday of NHS stock: “There are sufficient menB vaccine stocks.

“We will work with local resilience partners to ensure effective distribution.”

All reported cases so far have a link to Kent, according to the UKHSA. At least one person who fell ill and had links to Kent attended a London hospital.

This person had “no community contacts in London”, the UKHSA said, suggesting the risk of spread in the capital is low.

Health officials stressed that people should not skip antibiotics if prescribed them, with a single tablet of Ciprofloxacin reducing the risk of meningitis in a household by about 80% to 90%.

UKHSA chief executive Susan Hopkins said: “This looks like a super-spreader event, with ongoing spread within the halls of residence in the universities.

“There will have been some parties, particularly around this, so there will have been lots of social mixing.

“I can’t yet say where the initial infection came from, how it’s got into this cohort, and why it’s created such an explosive amount of infections.

“I can say that in my 35 years working in medicine, in healthcare and hospitals, this is the most cases I’ve seen in a single weekend with this type of infection.

“It’s the explosive nature that is unprecedented here – the number of cases in such a short space of time.

“NHS were initially managing it as a major incident in the region but they have now increased that overlay to having a national-level oversight as well.”

England’s deputy chief medical officer, Dr Thomas Waite, said: “This is by far the quickest-growing outbreak I’ve ever seen in my career, and I think probably any of us have seen, of meningitis for a very long time.

“Whilst it remains an outbreak that is having its consequences in Kent, it is obviously of national significance.”

Laboratory scientists are urgently trying to work out if the spread is caused by a possible mutant strain of menB.

The genome of the menB strain identified in the outbreak is undergoing whole genome sequencing to see if there are any differences to known strains.

It will also be tested against available menB vaccines, though experts stressed people should get a jab if eligible.

On Tuesday, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said most students would not already be vaccinated against menB.

He said the menB vaccine has been available on the NHS since 2015 as part of routine childhood immunisations, “but clearly most students would not be vaccinated”.

The vaccine programme may also expand further if other groups are deemed to be at risk.

Mr Streeting has also asked the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to “re-examine eligibility for meningitis vaccines” for a wider group of people.

It is now known that on Saturday, French authorities alerted the UKHSA to a confirmed case in France in a person who had attended the University of Kent.

There are four centres open in Canterbury offering antibiotics, with 11,000 doses available on site. People who attended Club Chemistry are still being urged to come forward, as are those on campus.

Andrew Ingram, 42, was jailed for 10 months and handed a fresh eight-year driving ban at Airdrie Sheriff Court.

A banned driver had two knives in his pockets when police officers found him drunk behind the wheel.

Andrew Ingram was jailed for 10 months and handed a fresh eight-year driving ban at Airdrie Sheriff Court.

He admitted carrying knives without reasonable excuse in Faskine Avenue, Airdrie, on October 19, 2024.

Ingram, 42, also admitted driving while disqualified and refusing to provide a specimen of blood to police.

The court heard officers were called to the area at 4.20pm.

Flora McCamley, prosecuting, said: “The accused was visibly intoxicated. His speech was slurred and his pupils were dilated.

“The car engine was running.

READ MORE: Serial flasher in the dock after three incidents in Hamilton

“He was searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act and a lockback knife and a craft knife were found in his trousers pockets.

“He was taken to Coatbridge police station and required to provide a sample of blood for analysis, but he refused to do so.”

Ingram is serving a 30-month sentence imposed at the same court for car theft, dangerous driving and driving while disqualified.

Defence lawyer Calum Ross said he was due to be released on April 29, adding: “His record does him no favours but he has spent his time in custody usefully by engaging in programmes.”

Passing sentence, Sheriff Paul Haran said Ingram had a “bad” record and “should have known better” than to carry knives in public.

The 10-month prison stretch will begin when his current sentence ends.

READ MORE: Sheriff orders destruction of Border collie Buble that bit woman on face

*Don’t miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.

And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.

A train hit a deer earlier this morning (Wednesday, March 18)

Railway services in Cambridgeshire have been disrupted after a train hit a deer this morning (Wednesday, March 18). Greater Anglia services from Norwich to Cambridge and from Norwich to Stansted Airport may be cancelled or delayed.

The 5.33am service from Norwich to Cambridge hit a deer in the Thetford area. The train sustained some damage and a technician is required to attend to the scene as well as a rescue train to clear the line.

The line from Norwich towards Ely is currently blocked. Trains running from Ely towards Norwich may also be disrupted. The disruption is expected until further notice.

Greater Anglia is trying to organise replacement buses and ticket acceptance on other services. People travelling today can use their tickets on routes via Bury St Edmunds.

To get more news and top stories delivered directly to your phone, join our new WhatsApp community. Click this link to receive your daily dose of CambridgeshireLive content.

We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

Mohammad Mustaqeen, a 54-year-old food vendor in Delhi, has stopped using cooking gas altogether. “Now that there is no gas, I am cooking with coal,” he says, describing a shift he never expected to make after years of relying on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders.

The escalating war in the Middle East is forcing many countries into difficult energy trade-offs as they decide whether to curb consumption or bear rising costs amid tightening supplies.

India is particularly vulnerable as it depends heavily on LPG imports from the Persian Gulf region.

Its supplies have dwindled since Iran shut the Strait of Hormuz, the critical maritime route that carries almost a quarter of the world’s crude oil and a fifth of its gas shipments out of the Middle East.

India uses over 31 million tonnes of LPG every year and imports about 62 per cent of that demand, according to The Hindu.

Authorities are responding to the shortage by assessing available reserves, seeking alternative supply sources, encouraging conservation, and attempting to contain price rises. These measures, however, come with consequences. Attempts to cut energy use are affecting economic activity, while prioritising LPG for household cooking is putting commercial users like eateries and small businesses under operational strain.

For Mustaqeen, forced to shift from LPG to coal overnight, the change is not just about fuel but a sense of reversal.

“Instead of moving forward, we’re moving back in time,” he says. With no regular electricity supply and no access to a fixed shop, alternatives such as induction cooking are not viable.

open image in gallery

Across the Indian capital, particularly in areas without piped natural gas like in the central district of Old Delhi, residents and businesses describe similar disruptions.

The Independent visited multiple LPG distribution outlets across the city where lines lasted hours, shutters came down early, and many were left empty-handed.

Many residents visited an outlet of Indane – one of the largest packed-LPG brands in India – near Delhi Gate repeatedly over several days in the hope of securing a cylinder. Some waited for hours simply to obtain paperwork that might eventually yield a cylinder.

Anjum, a 31-year-old from the Daryaganj area, says she has been trying to secure a cylinder for weeks. “I booked my LPG cylinder back in February,” she says. “But I’ve been unable to get it delivered and my visits to Indane agency sites haven’t yielded any result either.”

Her attempts have involved making repeated trips during the Ramadan fasting hours. “I stand in long queues,” she says. “But by the time my turn comes, the shop shuts down.”

She blames the authorities for her troubles. “It is the government’s negligence,” he says. “Because of the government’s laxity, the common man is suffering.”

open image in gallery

Advertisement

For Mohammad Naseer, 45, the shortage means a loss of his livelihood. He sells fried food but is unable to operate now.

“I have had to shut my business for lack of a cylinder,” he says. “I used to earn about Rs500 (£4) per day. The income has come down to zero.”

After days of waiting at a gas agency outlet, he obtained a paper slip that would allow him to purchase a cylinder elsewhere. “Now I have to go to Yamuna Bazaar where I have to stand in a line and then I will get a gas cylinder,” he says.

Deepak Kumar, a Chandni Chowk resident, says repeated visits to the local gas agency have yielded no success. “For the past 3-4 days, I have been coming daily for the booking,” he says. “I am only told to wait.”

With each passing day, the uncertainty is growing. “I am tense now, what will happen if I don’t get it?”

The impact extends beyond households into the capital’s dense network of small food businesses.

Surjit Singh Arora, 74, who has run Amar Jyoti Restaurant since 1965, says the shortage is affecting cooking methods as well as customer demand.

“It is difficult to find alternatives in the short term,” he says. While his experience has helped him adapt, the transition has not been smooth. “Cooking style is very deeply affected. My fried items have been affected. My tandoori items are compensating but the cooking process has slowed down.”

The slower pace of cooking has translated into financial losses. “A customer won’t wait if cooking is taking so long,” he says. “Sales are affected.” He estimates a drop in his income of about 25 per cent, rising to 30 per cent on weekends.

Some dishes have disappeared from the menu altogether. “Some of my dishes that are pan-fried I’m no longer able to serve,” he says. “South Indian food that needs steam to cook and momos are very popular, and they have gone off the menu.”

To cope, Arora has shifted part of his cooking to his home where piped natural gas is available. “Stuff like kidney beans, chickpeas that I can boil I get from home,” he says. “I now wake up early to prepare for the restaurant.”

open image in gallery

Advertisement

At LPG distribution centres, meanwhile, employees face mounting pressure from increasingly irate customers.

Meghraj Singh, a 26-year-old LPG agency worker, says tension is palpable. “Customers are worked up and tense. Some of them are even fighting with us.”

He describes long queues throughout the day. “From 9am to 3pm, the queues are really long. Some people are actually crying.”

The shortage has also triggered a political slugfest.

In parliament, opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge said the shortage was affecting “the poor, middle class, restaurants, hostels and commercial users” and questioned the government’s preparedness.

Government representatives have disputed claims of a widespread shortage. Petroleum minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that there was no supply-side crisis, attributing the ongoing disruptions to panic booking and hoarding. Officials are urging consumers not to panic and claim measures are in place to ensure distribution.

Sujata Sharma, joint secretary in the petroleum ministry, said they were monitoring the situation and acting against irregularities. “In the present situation, when we are facing a somewhat difficult phase regarding LPG supply,” she added, “the role of state governments and local administrations becomes very important, particularly in preventing hoarding and black marketing.”

Inspections and raids have been carried out and consumers have been encouraged to rely on online booking systems.

The federal government has prioritised domestic LPG supply over commercial use and encouraged a shift to piped natural gas where available.

It has also set up a committee to assess commercial demand and allocate supplies accordingly.

Authorities emphasise that broader fuel supplies are stable, with refineries operating at full capacity, and there are no reported shortages of petrol or diesel.

open image in gallery

Advertisement

Energy experts say the disruption underscores how hard it’s for Indian households to shift away from LPG, even where alternatives exist.

Sunil Mani, a policy advisor at the International Institute for Sustainable Development, says the challenge goes beyond simply introducing new technology.

“The shift to cleaner cooking in India is not just about technology, it’s about affordability, reliability, and how people cook,” he tells The Independent.

For many low-income households, he notes, subsidised LPG remains the only practical clean fuel as electric cooking requires upfront investment in appliances and depends on stable electricity supply, which is not universal.

As a result, alternatives, such as induction stoves, tend to supplement rather than replace LPG. This becomes more visible during supply disruptions when households and businesses attempt to switch fuels but face practical constraints.

At the same time, recent shortages affecting commercial users highlight broader pressures in India’s cooking fuel system. Mani says prioritising LPG for domestic consumption may offer short-term relief but it also exposes the risks of heavy reliance on imports and the need to diversify cooking energy sources.

On paper, he notes, electric cooking is already cost-competitive. Before the recent price increases, it was about 15 per cent cheaper than LPG. Now, the gap is nearly 20 per cent for many households. However, these savings aren’t evenly accessible, particularly where electricity supply is unreliable.

Encouraging urban households with dependable power to shift can ease pressure on the demand for LPG, Mani says, helping ensure supply for poorer families supported by subsidy schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.

In the longer term, he says, scaling up electric cooking may significantly reduce the dependence on LPG imports.

“Over time, gradually scaling up electric cooking could cut LPG demand by up to 50 per cent by 2050, strengthening India’s clean cooking transition and overall energy security.”

open image in gallery

Analysts warn the strain on supplies is exposing long-standing structural gaps in how India stores and sources LPG.

Hemant Mallya, a fellow at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water, says the country does maintain some storage, but at a scale that falls far short of demand.

“We do have underground storage but the combined capacity, I think, is 140,000 metric tonnes, which is not sufficient,” he tells The Independent, noting that India consumes close to 33 million tonnes annually.

That mismatch is compounded by the nature of India’s refining system. “India imports a lot of medium grade crude oil and heavy grade crude oil and the amount of LPG inherent in crude is substantially lower,” he says, adding that domestic production remains limited.

The dependence on imports has shaped how infrastructure has evolved. “Because we produce very little LPG at refineries, the storage at refineries isn’t sufficient,” he points out, explaining the system is designed around continuous supply rather than large reserves.

Efforts to build larger stockpiles have been slow, in part due to cost and geography. “Officially, India does not have a strategic petroleum reserve policy,” Mallya says, “they have been increasing the LPG storage but clearly not at a pace that would bring contingency.”

“It’s almost like nobody envisioned that it would be this bad.”

Building reserves requires significant capital with limited immediate returns. “If you have to keep one day’s worth of reserve, that’s literally $250m,” he says.

“Imagine if you want to keep a month’s worth. That’s the amount of capital that will be locked in without any return.”

Geological constraints also play a role. Suitable underground sites must be stable and leak-proof, and unlike some countries, India cannot easily repurpose depleted oil and gas fields at scale.

Then there are technical constraints in buying LPG from alternative suppliers. “LPG is a combination of butane and propane,” Mallya notes. “In India, the proportion is 60 per cent butane and 40 per cent propane. That’s not necessarily the ratio in which the US would sell their LPG.”

Even as policymakers encourage alternatives such as piped natural gas, access remains uneven. “If you go further away from urban areas, the density is so low you’ll have to put much larger pipeline networks and therefore capital for much lower returns,” Mallya says, adding that gaps persist even within cities due to housing and documentation barriers.

Taken together, these constraints mean that while crude oil supplies may remain stable, LPG availability, despite being a by-product of crude oil, can tighten quickly under stress – leaving households and businesses exposed when imports are disrupted.