Doomdooma, April 24 -- Small-scale food vendors in Tinsukia district of Assam are facing a deepening livelihood crisis as an acute shortage of commercial LPG cylinders force many roadside stalls to shut down, leaving both vendors and workers without income.

Among those affected is Shravan Tanti (50), a tea tribe resident of Doomdooma, who had set up a pakoda stall in 2019 inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's push for self-employment through small enterprises. For years, his stall drew steady footfall from students, daily wage earners and local residents. Today, it remains shuttered.

Tanti said the lack of commercial LPG cylinders has made it impossible to continue operations, bringing his business to a halt. The disruption has als...