Bengaluru, March 10 -- Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday accused the central government of failing to respond adequately to commercial LPG cylinder shortages, saying the situation could severely affect hotels, hospitals and other establishments.

He also added that the shortage could force restaurants and hotels across the country to shut operations due to a lack of cooking gas, warning that it may also lead to a sharp rise in prices.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Shivakumar said, "Today, the entire country is boiling. All hotels want to close because they don't have gas. All prices will shoot up. Everyone has to look at alternatives like firewood, electric stoves, or kerosene stoves."

The Karnataka Deputy C...