Pune, 13 March 2026: Students at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) are facing a major food crisis as a shortage of commercial LPG cylinders has disrupted cooking in campus messes and canteens.
According to mess operators, the remaining gas stock will last only until today afternoon or at most for the next two days, raising concerns about daily meals for thousands of students.
The shortage has created difficulties for many hostel students who rely on campus mess facilities. Students have urged the university administration to intervene immediately and arrange an alternative supply so that regular meal services can continue without interruption.
The crisis has intensified discussions across the campus after students warned that if the administration fails to resolve the issue, they will take their protest directly to the Vice-Chancellor’s residence.
“If the university cannot ensure food for us in the hostels, we will go to the Vice-Chancellor’s residence and eat there,” students said while expressing frustration over the situation.
Mess operators informed the university administration that preparing meals would soon become impossible once the current gas stock is exhausted. Several eateries on campus have already begun limiting menu items, and some food outlets in the food mall are considering suspending services.
The disruption has been linked to a halt in commercial LPG cylinder supply, reportedly due to global supply constraints following tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. Suppliers have indicated that new cylinders may not be available for the next 15 to 20 days.
Every day, nearly 3,000 students depend on food served at the girls’ hostel, boys’ hostels eight and nine, and the main refectory. With the exam season underway, students fear the situation could worsen if an immediate solution is not found.
Repeated attempts to contact the university administration about arrangements for students’ meals did not receive any response.
