The issue came into focus on Thursday evening after relatives of patients found the hospital canteen closed, leaving them with no option but to step outside the premises for tea, snacks and other requirements.
Responding to the concerns, Medical Superintendent Dr Rajendra Borkar said the hospital is prioritising essential services amid the LPG shortage. “Our in-house kitchen caters to hundreds of patients daily, providing breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner. We are therefore using LPG very cautiously and avoiding any wastage,” he said.
Clarifying the situation, Dr Borkar noted that the canteen was operational earlier in the day despite it being a holiday. However, it ceased operations around 3 pm. “Inquiries revealed that the canteen operator shut down after food stocks were exhausted. Given the limited LPG availability, the operator chose not to continue operations as a precautionary measure,” he added.
Hospital sources said the current approach is aimed at ensuring that patient meals remain unaffected, even if it means curtailing non-essential services temporarily.
The LPG constraint comes against the backdrop of periodic supply challenges in the region, which have affected several institutions dependent on bulk fuel consumption. Authorities, however, maintain that patient care remains the top priority while efforts are ongoing to stabilise supplies.
