Cooking Gas Shortage Spurs Fistfights, Firewood Use in India

The smoke rising from Babitha Sivadasan’s kitchen in rural Kerala carries a scent that belongs to her grandmother’s era.

“I have started cooking with firewood,” said Babitha, who began rationing her half-empty cooking gas cylinder after failing to secure a refill from her Indian Oil Corp. distributor. “The agency hasn’t taken bookings in a week.”