LPG Gas Crisis Triggers Panic Buying of Induction Cookers in Chennai

A sudden surge in demand for electric cooking appliances has swept across Chennai, with customers thronging electronics stores to buy induction stoves and electric cookers. At Sathya showrooms across the city, the rush has been unprecedented, leaving shelves empty in a matter of days.

All of Chennai's more than 60 Sathya showrooms have sold out their stocks of electric induction stoves and electric cookers as anxious consumers scramble for alternatives to cooking gas. The rush has been particularly intense at the Sathya outlet in T Nagar, one of the busiest electronics retail hubs in the city, India Today reported.

"In the last three days alone, we sold around 120 induction stoves at the T Nagar showroom," said Sitharaman, General Manager at Sathya, speaking to India Today. Fresh stock of induction stoves is expected to arrive later today, but store staff are certain that the supply will not last long.

Another report in Tamil media claim that the buying frenzy began earlier this week and quickly escalated as word spread about a possible shortage of LPG cylinders. Customers are throwing into stores asking specifically for induction cooktops, often purchasing them without much deliberation.

"We've never seen demand like this before," a salesperson told a Tamil news channel. "People are not even bargaining or comparing models. If the product is available, they buy it immediately."

The spike in Chennai mirrors a broader nationwide trend. According to a report by Financial Express, sales of induction cooktops have surged dramatically across offline retail chains and e-commerce platforms over the past few days. The sudden demand is being driven by fears of a shortage of LPG cylinders, compounded by a recent Rs 60 increase in LPG prices and an ongoing shortage of commercial cylinders.

Retailers across the country say the demand has multiplied several times within days. Executives at electronics chains Vijay Sales and Croma reported that average daily sales of induction cooktops had jumped nearly three times their usual levels as consumers rushed to secure alternative cooking options.

Online platforms are witnessing an even sharper spike. Amazon India said sales of induction cooktops surged more than 30 times in the past two days, while electric pressure cookers and rice cookers recorded a fourfold increase in demand. Air fryers and multi-use kettles also saw sales double compared to normal levels.

Flipkart reported that its sales volumes for induction cooktops had quadrupled over the last four to five days compared to the preceding weeks. Quick commerce platforms have also seen dramatic spikes, with one industry executive telling Financial Express that sales of induction cooktops were up 25 times compared to the previous week.

Industry experts say the shift in demand reflects a change in consumer mindset. What was once considered a "kitchen upgrade" is now increasingly viewed as a "survival necessity," particularly as households try to hedge against possible disruptions in cooking gas supply.

For retailers like Sathya in Chennai, the sudden rush has transformed a routine appliance category into the most sought-after product in the store. And with fears of supply disruptions still lingering, the scramble for electric cooking solutions may continue in the days ahead.