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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Commercial LPG 'evaporates' in Maharashtra

Mumbai : The short supply of commercial LPG cylinders turned ‘grim’ on Wednesday as hundreds of small and medium eateries – on whom the ordinary working Mumbaikars depend on for daily meals – shut down or drastically trimmed menus, on Wednesday.   With an estimated 50,000-plus hotels, restaurants and small food joints, the crunch is beginning to be felt severely, said Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Association of India (FHRAI) vice-president and Hotel and Restaurant Association Western...

Commercial LPG 'evaporates' in Maharashtra

Mumbai : The short supply of commercial LPG cylinders turned ‘grim’ on Wednesday as hundreds of small and medium eateries – on whom the ordinary working Mumbaikars depend on for daily meals – shut down or drastically trimmed menus, on Wednesday.   With an estimated 50,000-plus hotels, restaurants and small food joints, the crunch is beginning to be felt severely, said Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Association of India (FHRAI) vice-president and Hotel and Restaurant Association Western India (HRAWI) spokesperson Pradeep Shetty.   “We are in continuous touch with the concerned authorities, but the situation is very gloomy. There is no response from the Centre or the Ministry of Petroleum on when the situation will ease. We fear that more than 50 pc of all eateries in Mumbai will soon down the shutters. The same will apply to the rest of the state and many other parts of India,” Shetty told  ‘ The Perfect Voice’ .   The shortage of commercial LPG has badly affected multiple sectors, including the hospitality and food industries, mass private or commercial kitchens and even the laundry businesses, industry players said.   At their wits' ends, many restaurateurs resorted to the reliable old iron ‘chulhas’ (stoves) fired by either coal or wood - the prices of which have also shot up and result in pollution - besides delaying the cooking.   Anticipating a larger crisis, even domestic LPG consumers besieged retail dealers in Mumbai, Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Ratnagiri, Kolhapur, Akola, Nagpur to book their second cylinder, with snaky queues in many cities. The stark reality of the 12-days old Gulf war with the disturbed supplies has hit the people and industries in the food supply chains that feed crores daily.   “The ordinary folks leave home in the morning after breakfast, then they rely on the others in the food chain for their lunch or dinner. Many street retailers have also shut down temporarily,” said Shetty.   Dry Snacks A quick survey of some suburban ‘khau gullies’ today revealed that the available items were mostly cold sandwiches, fruit or vegetable salads, cold desserts or ice-creams, cold beverages and packed snacks. Few offered the regular ‘piping hot’ foods that need elaborate cooking, or charging higher than normal menu rates, and even the app-based food delivery system was impacted.   Many people were seen gloomily munching on colorful packets of dry snacks like chips, chivda, sev, gathiya, samosas, etc. for lunch, the usually cheerful ‘chai ki dukaans’ suddenly disappeared from their corners, though soft drinks and tetrapaks were available.   Delay, Scarcity  Maharashtra LPG Dealers Association President Deepak Singh yesterday conceded to “some delays due to supply shortages” of commercial cylinders, but assured that there is no scarcity of domestic cylinders.   “We are adhering to the Centre’s guidelines for a 25 days booking period between 2 cylinders (domestic). The issue is with commercial cylinders but even those are available though less in numbers,” said Singh, adding that guidelines to prioritise educational institutions, hospitals, and defence, are being followed, but others are also getting their supplies.   Despite the assurances, Shetty said that the current status is extremely serious since the past week and the intermittent disruptions have escalated into a near-total halt in supplies in many regions since Monday.   Adding to the dismal picture is the likelihood of local hoteliers associations in different cities like Pune, Palghar, Nagpur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and more resorting to tough measures from Thursday, including temporary shutdown of their outlets, which have run out of gas stocks.

Forensic Response in Mass Fatality Tragedies

Disaster response is not only about saving lives—it is also about restoring names, truth, and dignity to those who have been lost.

Mass fatality preparedness is not a topic most people think about until tragedy strikes. The recent Delhi blast, which shook the city and left families searching desperately for answers, reminds us that disaster response is not only about saving the living but also about identifying and honouring the dead. Every disaster scene holds two urgent missions: one of rescue and another of remembrance. It demands a well-coordinated forensic system that can identify victims, trace the source of the event, and preserve the dignity of those lost. Each response must blend science, coordination, and compassion.


In every mass fatality incident, the chaos is immediate and overwhelming. Dozens of bodies, personal belongings, and fragmented remains challenge responders to bring order and meaning. The first few hours are critical: securing the blast site, collecting biological and trace evidence, and mapping the scene. Each body or fragment is a potential identifier, and each object – be it a car part, mobile phone, or CCTV footage – can tell investigators what happened and who was involved.


After an explosion, visual recognition often fails; faces are burned and fragmented, and fingerprints may be destroyed. Forensic pathologists determine cause and manner of death, while odontologists match dental charts when all else is lost. DNA experts extract profiles from the smallest tissue or bone sample to connect victims with their loved ones. Forensic anthropologists reconstruct fragmented remains to ensure that every person, even in pieces, is accounted for. Together, these specialists work within the Interpol Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) framework, collecting, comparing, and reconciling post-mortem and antemortem data until every name is restored.


Trace Movements

Alongside victim identification, CCTV footage helps trace movements, vehicles, and suspicious activity before the blast. Vehicle number analysis identifies cars or bikes used to transport explosives or flee the scene. In past cases like the Hyderabad Dilsukhnagar Twin Blasts (2013), CCTV and vehicle tracking led investigators to key suspects. Mobile phone data (CDR and others), GPS, and messages help map communication and movement around the time of the explosion. These digital clues help forensic teams reconstruct events accurately.


These operations demand close coordination among all agencies. The Delhi blast revealed both efficiency and gaps: swift action, but delays caused by limited facilities and incomplete records. Clear SOPs and trained DVI units are essential to improve future response. Without proper alignment, evidence can be lost, identities can be mismatched, and grief can be prolonged.


Yet preparedness is not only about software or equipment. It begins with training and empathy. After the Pulwama attack (2019), forensic teams faced immense emotional pressure, yet their disciplined approach allowed nearly all victims to be identified quickly through DNA and dental comparison. Such examples show that planning and compassion can coexist under extreme circumstances.


Consistent Planning

Building this capacity requires consistent planning and investment. Every state should develop specialised DVI units, mobile morgue facilities, and DNA databases to respond quickly during large-scale incidents. Regular mock drills can test coordination among police, forensic experts, and health authorities, ensuring each team knows its role before a real crisis occurs. Preparedness should never start after a tragedy; it must be an ongoing process. Public awareness plays an equally important part. Families should understand the value of keeping updated dental, medical, and identification records, as these often become crucial for confirming identities in emergencies.


Ultimately, mass fatality preparedness is about respect for science, procedure, and human life itself. The Delhi blast should remind us to strengthen how we respond when lives are lost. Each identified victim represents a promise kept to their family and to society. With proper preparedness, even in the midst of chaos, we can restore order, truth, and dignity.


(Dr. Kumar is a retired IPS and forensic consultant to the Assam government. Das is a student of National Forensic University, Guwahati.)

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