India LPG Shortage Affects School Midday Meals And Nutritional Delivery

India

-Gaurav Sharma

Students at Bhadrakali High School in West Bengal were recently filmed eating golgappas for their mid-day meal, after staff reportedly could not cook as usual because of an LPG shortage. The clip has become a viral video online, raising questions about how the LPG shortage is affecting school meals and everyday kitchens across India.

The scene was recorded and shared on Instagram by assistant teacher Nandita Sarkar. In the viral video, a phuchka vendor stands inside the school courtyard, while students line up for their plates. Each child appears to receive around five to six golgappas, which are then eaten in the mid-day meal break.

LPG shortage viral video mid-day meal triggers debate on nutrition and welfare

As the viral video spread, it quickly crossed more than one million views on Instagram. Many viewers said the arrangement looked like a creative response to the LPG shortage. However, several others worried that a snack such as panipuri cannot match the nutritional value intended under the government mid-day meal scheme.

Users on social media asked whether golgappas were served only for that day because LPG was unavailable, or whether such alternatives are becoming more common during the LPG shortage. Commenters noted that the children seemed cheerful in the viral video, yet stressed that these meals should not replace balanced, cooked food provided through the mid-day meal programme.

LPG shortage viral video mid-day meal linked to wider fuel supply concerns

The discussion around Bhadrakali High School has emerged as online concern grows over the broader LPG shortage. Global tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel, along with worries about the Strait of Hormuz, have increased fears of disruption to global oil and gas supplies, which includes LPG used in Indian kitchens.

In India, these worries appear to be reflected in daily life beyond this single viral video. Several recent clips from Bengaluru show paying guest facilities and small eateries waiting longer for LPG cylinders, or managing without them altogether. Residents and business owners say they are turning to temporary cooking methods while supplies remain uncertain or delayed.

With cooking gas harder to access in some areas, people report changing normal food routines, including mid-day meal planning. The Bhadrakali High School episode has therefore become a visible example of how the LPG shortage can reach school kitchens, highlighting both the need for reliable fuel supplies and the importance of maintaining nutritious meals for students.