Firewood prices in Madurai have sharply increased as a shortage of LPG cylinders and rising fuel costs push households and eateries to seek alternative cooking options.
According to traders, the price of firewood has doubled from ₹150 to ₹300, driven by a sudden surge in demand. Many hotels, small eateries and households have started turning to firewood as cooking gas becomes difficult to obtain or more expensive.
Traders said the demand for firewood has jumped dramatically from the usual one tonne per day to nearly ten tonnes, placing pressure on supply chains.
With the rapid spike in demand, traders have warned that Madurai could face a severe firewood shortage within the next two days if supplies are not increased quickly.