dhabas are family-run and employ millions, including local people and migrant workers. The problems they now face are part of a wider malaise in the travel and leisure industry, and the Indian economy in general.
India on Friday reported 62,480 new daily cases, down significantly from a peak of more than 400,000 on May 9 during its second wave of COVID-19 infections.
Given low vaccination rates, experts are already warning of a third wave later this year. Economists fear the sector faces weakness into next year, even if the government can vaccinate the majority of India's near 1.4 billion people.
Only 6% are fully vaccinated now. STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE Last year, the government extended federal guarantees on bank loans for small businesses