‘The Situation is Dire’: Hostilities on Iran Tightens India's Cooking-Gas Stock.

The ripple effects of a military engagement being fought nearly 1,864 miles away are now being felt in India's households.

As US-Israeli strikes on Iran disrupt energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, supplies of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are tightening across India, compelling restaurants to shorten food lists, close earlier and in some cases close completely.

Social media is flooded by video clips showing crowds outside fuel suppliers across Indian cities and towns as anxieties over fuel supplies spread. Commercial LPG users appear the most affected: the sharpest squeeze is in food service establishments.

"Conditions are critical. Cooking gas simply cannot be found," says a spokesperson of the a major restaurant body.

Most food outlets run either on commercial LPG cylinders or direct gas lines, and the scarcities are now being noticed across the country. "A lot of restaurants have shut down - some in the capital, many in the southern region. People are turning to solid fuels and electric cookers to keep food preparation going."

Localized Effects

In a western metro, local news say up to a 20% of hotels and restaurants are already operating at reduced capacity as cylinder availability dry up. In the southern cities of Bangalore and Madras, some establishments say their fuel reserves have depleted with minimal reserves. "We can only make coffee and no other dishes - it is truly dismal. Operations will be impacted," says a restaurant owner in Bengaluru.

Restaurant managers are scrambling to adapt. "Food options are being cut, some are skipping midday meals and opening only for dinner," an industry representative says, adding that shutdowns are varying as supplies come and go. "Three restaurants in Delhi were shut yesterday - some have resumed operations. It's a dynamic scenario."

Retailers observe a increase in sales of electronic cooking appliances, with some saying they are running out of them.

Authority's View

Yet, the authorities maintains there is no shortage.

India has more than a vast number of household consumers and officials say stocks are being reallocated to households as conflict-related stress from the war in the Gulf affect energy markets.

Roughly 60% of India's LPG is sourced from abroad, and about 90% of those imports pass through the key maritime route, the vital passage now largely blocked by the conflict.

The petroleum ministry says that it instructed refineries to maximise LPG output for domestic use, raising domestic production by about 25%. Business-grade fuel is being reserved for critical services such as hospitals and educational institutions, while distribution will be "equitable and clear".

"A degree of anxious stocking and accumulation has been sparked by false reports. The standard supply timeline for home fuel remains about under three days," says a government spokesperson.

Spreading Anxiety

Now the concern is spreading beyond kitchens. On digital platforms, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a lengthy, winding line of scooters outside a petrol pump. "Anxiety is palpable," the description reads.

According to data from market experts, concerns about India's broader energy security may be overstated.

India imports almost all of its crude oil. Around a significant portion of its petroleum shipments - about 2.5 to 2.7 million barrels a day - travel through the strait, largely from regional suppliers.

Even if petroleum transit through the Strait of Hormuz are disrupted, the deficit could be partly offset by higher imports of discounted Russian crude, according to a sector expert.

Based on vessel tracking and industry information, additional Russian crude imports could reach around 1-1.2 million barrels a day, narrowing India's effective shortfall from exposure to the Strait of Hormuz to about a substantial volume of barrels a day.

"Around 25-30 million Russian oil barrels are currently floating on ships in the Indian Ocean and, with only India and China as major buyers, those barrels remain a viable alternative," an analyst noted.

Kitchen Fuel: The Primary Concern

The real vulnerability is LPG, commentators observe.

India consumes roughly one million barrels a day, but produces only less than half domestically, importing the rest - 80–90% through Hormuz.

Refineries can modify output to produce a bit more LPG, but even a moderate increase would only lift domestic supply to about under half of demand, leaving the country heavily reliant on imports.

In short: "Oil import vulnerability can be moderately reduced through alternative sourcing. Fuel availability remains largely sufficient. Kitchen fuel stocks is the key factor to monitor in the coming weeks."

What may be worsening the concern on the ground is not just scarcity but patchy deliveries - and the usual problem of hoarding.

An industry representative claims exploitative practices.

"Suppliers are exploiting the situation - selling fuel on the black market and selling them at a premium. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being accumulated and sold to the highest bidder."

For now, India's energy imports may be cushioned by worldwide shipping. But in restaurants across the country, the more immediate question is simple: how to get the next refill.