West Asia war impact: Mumbai's dabbawalas hit by gas cylinder shortage

Amid the ongoing West Asia war, Mumbai's iconic 150-year-old dabbawala system is facing an unprecedented crisis due to severe shortage of LPG cylinders. The war has led to over 30 per cent of Mumbai hotels shutting down, according to the Mumbai Dabbewala Association. With community kitchens forced to close, tiffin deliveries have been reduced by half, directly threatening the livelihoods of thousands of dabbawalas. The familiar sight of men in white Gandhi caps delivering tiffins across Churchgate, Dadar, and Bandra is beginning to fade. Customers who have relied on this system for years are now scrambling for alternatives, with some making arrangements to order food from home for their staff.