Hotels and restaurants across Kerala to shut down today 

KOCHI: Hotels, restaurants, and bakeries across the state will remain closed today in protest against the steep hike in cooking gas (LPG) prices. The 24-hour strike has been called by the Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHRA). Online food delivery services will also be unavailable during this period. Several organisations, including the Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi, Vyapari Vyavasayi Samithi, All Kerala Caterers Association, and the Hostel Owners Federation, have declared their support for the strike.

Hotel owners and workers will also hold marches and sit-in protests (dharnas) in front of petroleum company offices and central government institutions, demanding a withdrawal of the price hike. The state-level protest in front of the IOC office in Panampilly Nagar, Ernakulam, will be inaugurated by Association State President G. Jayapal at 3:00 PM today.