Over seven lakh Odia workers are employed in Surat’s textile and power loom sectors. When 36-year-old Sudarshan Mahakud, a native of Ganjam’s Buguda, left for Surat in November, he planned to return home after a year. The LPG crisis triggered by the West Asia conflict has forced Sudarshan, who works in a Surat power loom, to return early. Since most of the workers don’t have a regular LPG connection, they depend on 5 kg from the black market. As the West Asia conflict shows no signs of abating, hundreds of Odia workers are returning from Surat, where they are employed in textile mills and the power loom industry.

Source: Indian Express March 29, 2026 01:02 UTC