Not just LPG cylinder shortage, Induction cooktops also going 'out of stock' on Blinkit, Zepto, and Instamart amid Iran-Israel war

The "Unavailable" and "Sold out" badges are shown over Induction cooktops results on India’s leading quick-commerce apps today, as a frantic public scrambles to secure induction stoves ahead of a looming energy drought. When ET checked the platforms like Blinkit, Zepto, BigBasket and Swiggy Instamart showing out of stock for induction cooktops. These platforms which typically promise delivery in ten minutes, are now experiencing spikes in demand for electric cooktops, which is likely to be a direct fallout of LPG cylinder supply shortage. In a bid to keep the supply for domestic gas intact, the government recently issued a sudden halt in commercial gas and a 25-day mandatory gap between domestic refills, resulting into a high-stakes race for the last remaining units.

Also Read: LPG crisis in India: Long queues outside Noida, Lucknow, Delhi, Bhubaneswar agencies as West Asia conflict hits cities amid Iran-US-Israel tensions

Why are Blinkit, Zepto, and Instamart running out of induction stoves?

The primary driver is a massive shift in consumer sentiment triggered by the US-Israel-Iran war, which has effectively choked the Strait of Hormuz—the gateway for nearly 90% of India’s LPG imports. With the government prioritizing households and essential services like hospitals, the hospitality sector and the broader public are panicking over a perceived total gas blackout.

How has the LPG crisis impacted the hospitality sector?

The shortage of 19-kg commercial cylinders has already forced approximately 20% of eateries in Mumbai to shut their doors, with warnings that 50-60% could follow by the weekend. To stay afloat, small-scale restaurants and roadside stalls are attempting to switch to high-power induction hobs, further depleting the stock available for regular home users. Major hotel associations in Chennai and Bengaluru have written to the Prime Minister, describing the situation as "catastrophic" and noting that even bulk orders for electric stoves are being met with multi-day delays from vendors.

Also Read: LPG Shortage: Delhi HC canteen halts main meals while cylinder crisis triggers long queues at several gas agencies

What is the current availability and pricing on BigBasket and Amazon?

While quick-commerce platforms are largely depleted, larger e-commerce players like Amazon and BigBasket are still listing limited stock, though mostly in the premium price bracket of ₹3,000 and above. Budget models from brands like Lifelong, Pigeon, and Prestige—which were selling for as low as ₹1,200 last week—are the first to disappear, leaving consumers with only high-end, multi-mode hobs. Even on these larger platforms, delivery times in cities like Kolkata and Delhi struggle to move heavy appliance stock to high-demand areas.

For now, consumers are advised to explore electric kettles, microwave ovens, and hot plates as secondary alternatives while the core induction stove inventory is diverted to metro "dark stores" for localized restocks.