LPG Crisis in India Live Updates: MP CM Mohan Yadav accuses Rahul Gandhi of ‘irresponsible politics’ over LPG issue

Iran has allowed two India-flagged liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers to transit through the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Reuters reported citing four sources with direct knowledge of the matter.

The development comes as Iran’s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, confirmed that Tehran would provide safe passage to vessels bound for India through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical routes for global energy trade.

Responding to a question on whether Iran would allow Indian-bound ships safe transit through the strait, Fathali said, “Yes. Because India and I are friends. You can see the future, and I think that after two or three hours. Because we believe that. We believe that Iran and India are friends. We have common interests; we have a common fate.”

(Reported by news agency ANI)


Karnataka minister Eshwara Khandre blamed the Centre for the ongoing shortage of commercial LPG cylinders, stating that the Union government should have anticipated the crisis arising from the ongoing West Asia conflict and taken preventive measures to ensure uninterrupted supply.
Speaking to reporters in Bidar, Khandre said the Centre, particularly Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, should have been better prepared for the situation as tensions in West Asia were already escalating. He stressed that timely planning could have helped prevent the disruption currently affecting businesses and consumers across several states.

"The central government is responsible for this. Mr Hardeep Singh Puri and the central government should have taken all preventive and precautionary measures because everybody knew what was going to happen and they should have anticipated this situation... They should take steps to get gas, petrol, diesel from whatever sources are available and ensure that people do not face such a situation," Khandre said.

Kandivli resident Deonandan Prasad Singh (54) was killed when the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker MT Safesea Vishnu, on which he was working, was attacked near Khor Al Zubair Port near Basra in Iraq on Wednesday, according to the Directorate General of Shipping under the Union ministry of ports, shipping and waterways.

(Reported by news agency PTI)

The Gujarat government has decided to provide new PNG (piped natural gas) connections to restaurants, hotels, educational and socio-religious institutions located in areas where the pipeline distribution network is available, if they apply for the facility.

The decision was taken on Friday at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. The meeting reviewed the status of PNG and petroleum products in the state in the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which has severely disrupted global energy supplies.

"The CM took an important decision that in the areas of the state where pipeline network for city gas distribution is available, restaurants, hotels, educational and socio-religious institutions demanding new PNG connections will be given the same with immediate effect as per their needs," stated an official release.

(Reported by Murari Shetye/TNN)
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Pramod Sawant on Friday said the Goa government has halted LPG supply to industries for the time being, adding that deliveries will resume shortly.

He assured that the state has an adequate quota of LPG cylinders for domestic consumers and urged people not to panic. Sawant also said LPG dealers will soon begin accepting online bookings for cylinder refills.

According to the chief minister, the state is currently facing nearly an 80% shortfall in the supply of commercial LPG cylinders.

“Within the next week, all the issues related to LPG cylinders for domestic consumers will be resolved and state govt will also sort out issues related to LPG cylinder supply to commercial consumers,” the CM said.

Sawant made the remarks after chairing a high-level committee meeting to assess the availability of LPG cylinders in the state.

(Reported by TNN)

The shortage of LPG cylinders triggered by the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the US and Israel is beginning to disrupt daily life and livelihoods across the country, with reports of deaths in queues, black marketing, thefts, restaurant closures and steep price hikes emerging from multiple states.

In Tamil Nadu, domestic LPG cylinders that normally cost around Rs 1,400 are being sold in the black market for as much as Rs 2,800. The shortage has also forced eateries to shut operations in several states. Hotel associations said about 40% of eateries in Kerala and 30% in Karnataka have temporarily closed due to the lack of commercial cylinders.

Industrial units are also feeling the impact. At the Hingna industrial estate near Nagpur, more than 70% of MSMEs reported serious operational challenges following restrictions on commercial LPG supply and rising fuel prices. In Tamil Nadu, consumer helplines received around 70 complaints from customers about hotels and tea stalls overcharging and citing the gas crunch as the reason.

The shortage has also led to incidents of theft. In the Chalai market area of Thiruvananthapuram, CCTV cameras captured a man walking away with a commercial LPG cylinder from a hotel.

Religious and cultural practices have also been affected. The 200-year-old Sri Ganesh Temple in Secunderabad has temporarily stopped distributing annadanam and prasadam due to the fuel shortage. In Kolkata, sweets that require high-temperature flames — such as labanga latika, kalojaam, pantua and darbesh — have disappeared from shop counters. Restaurants in the city have also removed dishes like handi biryani, mutton rezala and dal makhani from their menus because they require longer cooking time and higher fuel consumption.

Educational institutions and hostels are also cutting back. In Bhopal, the shortage of commercial LPG cylinders has forced leading institutions such as National Law Institute University and Indian Institute of Science Education and Research to scale down hostel meal menus. Similar measures have been taken in Rajasthan’s coaching hub Kota, where several hostels and mess operators have reduced menu options, stopped serving snacks and, in some cases, switched to coal for cooking.

A Bharwad community-run hotel in Gujarat has reduced the number of rotis served to students from 700 to 300. In Kolkata, Desun Hospital has temporarily limited its menu to vegetarian and egg-based meals, as non-vegetarian dishes generally require more fuel, said CMD Sajal Dutta. The aim, he said, is to prioritise meals for patients over others.

The shortage has also led to tragedy. At Sehna village in Punjab’s Barnala district, Bhushan Kumar, 60, was standing in a queue to obtain an LPG cylinder early in the morning. He was customer number 25 among 125 people waiting in line after arriving at 5am. At 7.50am, he collapsed. He was taken to hospital but died on the way.

Price increases are being felt at small eateries as well. Several tea stalls in Chennai raised the price of tea from Rs 3 to Rs 5. In areas such as Mogappair and Anna Nagar, the price of tea rose from Rs 12 to Rs 15, while coffee went up from Rs 15 to Rs 18. Vendors said the revised prices would remain in place until the gas supply situation improves. “Commercial gas now costs as much as Rs 5,000. We are also unsure about when we get a refill,” a vendor said.

In Kerala, the hospitality sector has been hit particularly hard. “The worst hit are the eateries in urban hubs like Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, where fire-safety norms and congested buildings make switching to traditional firewood impossible. Out of the nearly one lakh hotels, small and big, nearly 40% have downed shutters,” said N Abdul Razzak, general secretary, Kerala Hotel & Restaurant Association.

Across the country, families and small eateries are trying different ways to cope with the shortage. In Punjab, many dhabas have started using earthen chulhas, increasing the demand for wood and coal. Some households have turned to small tandoors and kerosene stoves.

Meanwhile, the demand for electric cooking alternatives is rising. In Kanpur’s Maniram Bagiya market, which has over 150 electrical goods shops, demand for induction cooktops has surged, according to Manoj Mehgani, president of the Maniram Bagiya Electric Market.

(Reported by news agency ANI)

The ongoing shortage of LPG cylinders has forced hotels to switch to firewood stoves and reduce their menus, while migrants in Hyderabad are repairing old pump stoves to manage cooking, leading to increased demand at pump stove repair centres.
This comes amid rising concerns over global supply constraints of LPG due to ongoing tensions in West Asia.

In Hyderabad, the commercial gas cylinder shortage has led migrants to repair pump stoves to cook food, resulting in a surge in sales at pump stove repair centres.

Sanjay, a migrant labourer from Odisha, said they are repairing pump stoves only because of the gas shortage.

"We work in hotels and are repairing pump stoves only because of the gas shortage. We're using diesel to run these stoves since kerosene isn't available," Sanjay told ANI.

Sofiyan, a gas stove mechanic, said their store, Rama Store in Chikkadpally, is seeing a surge in customers seeking stove repairs and gas.

"Our store, Rama Store in Chikkadpalli, is seeing a surge in customers seeking stove repairs and gas. Outsiders are the worst hit as they can't use wood stoves due to landlord restrictions. Pump stoves are in demand, but spare parts are scarce. Poor people can't afford electric stoves, so they're opting for pump stoves and using diesel as kerosene isn't available," Sofiyan told ANI.

(Reported by Ashish Gupta & Anjali Jhangiani/TNN)

Frustration is rising among residents across the city as delays in LPG cylinder deliveries have forced many to queue up outside gas agencies in the hope of getting a refill.

People standing in queues at several locations told TOI that the uncertainty around supply has compelled many to take leave from work or shut their businesses for the day just to wait in line, unsure of when their next cylinder will arrive.

In an effort to curb hoarding and ensure fair distribution of cooking gas, the government has extended the minimum waiting period for booking a domestic LPG refill from 21 days to 25 days. Consumers must place bookings online, after which filled cylinders are delivered to their homes.

However, the situation varies across Pune. While some consumers said they received cylinders within two to three days in certain areas, others complained of severe shortages. The uneven supply has triggered panic buying, with residents rushing to nearby gas agencies hoping to obtain a refill directly.

Chetan Gaikwad, a home chef from Katraj, said he spent the entire day travelling across the city trying to find a cylinder. “I have been running from pillar to post to get a cylinder for my work. Someone told me to go to Kharadi, so I did. Then I went to Deccan and now I have come to Fatimanagar, but had no luck yet,” he said.

Despite ongoing tensions disrupting shipping routes in the Persian Gulf, a crude oil tanker has successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz and is now en route to India, providing some relief to concerns over energy supplies. The Liberian-flagged tanker MT Smyrni is scheduled to reach Mumbai port on Saturday with approximately 1.40 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil on board.

Another vessel, the Indian oil tanker Jag Prakash, carrying nearly 50,000 metric tonnes of crude, has also passed through the strait. However, according to available information, the tanker is currently bound for Africa. There is no confirmation yet on whether it will be redirected to India by paying an additional premium.

(Reported by Somit Sen)

Amid delays in the delivery of domestic LPG cylinders, black marketing was reported in some areas, with cylinders allegedly being sold at almost double the retail price, industry sources said. Long queues and confusion were witnessed outside several outlets, including in Bhandup and Santacruz. Manoj Mali, who was waiting in a long line at Bhandup, said, “There is no gas at home, so once my booking was done online, I came with my empty cylinder demanding a replacement.”

Authorities have meanwhile set up control rooms at the state, divisional, district and taluka levels. A dedicated WhatsApp grievance redressal facility has also been launched to ensure quicker handling of complaints.

A senior state official said domestic LPG cylinders are currently available in greater quantities than at any time in the past six months, insisting there is no shortage. “Action will be taken against fake news on social media,” the official said, urging people not to believe rumours.

According to officials, Maharashtra’s average daily LPG demand stands at around 9,000 metric tonnes, while refinery production has been increased by 22% to nearly 11,000 metric tonnes per day to reinforce supply.

However, deliveries of commercial LPG cylinders have not yet resumed in Mumbai. The petroleum minister informed Parliament that commercial establishments would receive only 20% of their average monthly requirement under the current priority allocation.

Karnataka government on Friday ruled out supplying commercial LPG cylinders to hotels for the next 7–10 days, dealing a blow to restaurants hoping to resume normal operations soon.

The shortage has already forced around 30% of hotels across the state to shut down, while nearly half of the small eateries in Bengaluru have either suspended services or scaled down their operations due to lack of cooking gas.

Authorities clarified that LPG supplies to essential institutions such as hospitals, hostels, residential schools and large manufacturing units would continue without interruption. Fuel supply for vehicles running on LPG, including autorickshaws, will also remain unaffected.

Speaking in the legislative council after reviewing the situation on the ground, food and civil supplies minister KH Muniyappa said the limited stock available with oil companies had made it difficult to maintain normal supply levels. The government has advised hotel owners to “patiently wait” for 7–10 days until the situation improves.

Small eateries and street vendors have been hit hard by the shortage of commercial LPG cylinders. Many vendors said they were forced to drastically cut menu options or shut temporarily. While large establishments connected to PNG pipelines continue operating normally, smaller businesses dependent on LPG are struggling to keep kitchens running.

Long queues and frayed tempers were witnessed outside LPG agencies in parts of Old Delhi as residents scrambled to secure cylinders. Many claimed online booking systems were not functioning and calls to agency helplines went unanswered. Police personnel had to be deployed at certain locations to manage crowds and prevent clashes.

India imports more than 60% of its LPG needs and nearly 85-90% of these shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz. With tanker movements disrupted due to the conflict in West Asia, some shipments remain delayed. Officials said India has increased domestic LPG production by 30% to partly offset the supply disruptions.

Officials said the perception of shortage has triggered a sharp spike in LPG refill bookings. Daily booking numbers rose from around 57.5 lakh before the West Asia conflict to nearly 75.7 lakh on March 12, a 32% jump. Authorities stressed that the surge reflects panic behaviour rather than an actual shortage of domestic cooking gas.

With LPG demand surging amid panic over possible shortages, the Centre urged households located near piped natural gas networks to switch to PNG connections. Officials said nearly 60 lakh households could easily take the connection. Commercial establishments facing supply disruptions were also advised to contact city gas distribution networks and reduce reliance on LPG cylinders.