Overview
- The Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association led a statewide shutdown on Wednesday that closed hotels, restaurants, bakeries and canteens for 24 hours.
- Hotel owners held marches and sit‑ins at petroleum company and central government offices, and the All Kerala Caterers Association announced a torchlight rally on Thursday and district‑level protests on Friday seeking a rollback.
- The closures left commuters and travelers scrambling for meals, with only a few outlets near hospitals and some government canteens operating.
- State‑run oil companies lifted the 19‑kg commercial LPG price by about ₹993 for May, taking it to ₹3,071.50 in New Delhi and ₹3,106 in Thiruvananthapuram after smaller hikes in March and April.
- Businesses outside Kerala are passing costs to customers, with Bhopal caterers planning about a 10% increase on new bookings or ₹10–15 more per plate, and some snack prices already higher as switching to electric equipment would demand heavy upfront spending.