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NDTV’s ‘Jai Jawan’ with Aishwarya in Siachen to mark beginning of a new series
MUMBAI: Shahrukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Aamir Khan, Rani Mukerji, Johnny Lever and many others have brought sunshine in the otherwise mundane lives of the Indian soldiers when NDTV’s Jai Jawan took them to interact with the soldiers. Now it’s Aishwarya Rai’s turn to do a ‘Daiya Daiya’ for the jawans in Siachen. What’s the big deal, one would ask. Here’s what… Siachen is 14,000 feet above sea level and the temperature there is a freezing -15° C! What’s more Rai is the first woman to be allowed in Siachen.
This episode of Jai Jawan will be aired on New Year’s eve and this was the first time that NDTV took their satellite along with them for direct uplinking. This episode will also mark the beginning of a new series of Jai Jawan.
NDTV India’s anchor Panjak Pachauri, who accompanies Rai to Siachen informs that their unit took four tonnes of equipment along with them for this shoot. This comprised five cameras, three kilometer-long wires, satellite dish, 16 TV monitors, lights, switches… the works! A helicopter and two army trucks were borrowed to carry the equipment to Siachen apart from the other seven – four wheel drives, that were required to transport the 11 crew members to the location. Rai traveled to Siachen from Mumbai in the cockpit of the helicopter and stayed in Siachen with the jawans for two days.
The satellite dish that the crew carried with them was used to communicate live with the families and friends of the soldiers who resided in villages and towns near Haryana and Delhi. The soldiers and Rai interacted with the families. This is the first time that NDTV carried a satellite dish with them on Jai Jawan. One hitch although, was that at -15° C, the satellite dish froze and kerosene stoves had to be used to heat the satellite and get it working again. Apart from that, a few crew members had breathing problems as a result of which, one of them even had to be hospitalised and another two were put on Oxygen.
Rai, on the other hand, was her usual bubbly self and had loads of fun with the jawans. She danced on the song ‘Daiya Daiya Re’ from her movie Dil Ka Rishta and ‘Nimbuda Nimbuda’ from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. This was probably the first ever stage show that was done in Siachen. The sporting Rai also joined the jawans during lunch and dinner.
Pachauri who was with her throughout said, “Aishwarya is very sporting and has no starry airs about her. She enjoyed the food from the army canteen and sat with the soldiers to eat. She also performed in front of the 1000 odd jawans on two songs.” The NDTV crew carried 20 of her movie songs along with them to Siachen.
While, this episode will mark the beginning of a new series of Jai Jawan, NDTV has already drawn out a list of stars, who will be accompanying them to the remote areas where Indian soldiers live a solitary life. Says Pachauri, “With the new series, we are just pushing the border further and that makes it that much more challenging for us.”
News Broadcasting
Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
