‘An Alarming State of Affairs’: Hostilities on Iran Tightens India's Cooking-Gas Availability.

The shockwaves of a war being fought nearly 1,864 miles away are now reaching India's households.

As US-Israeli strikes on Iran disrupt energy deliveries through the Strait of Hormuz, stocks of cooking gas are dwindling across India, compelling restaurants to cut menus, shorten hours and in some cases cease operations entirely.

Social media is flooded by video clips showing queues outside LPG distributors across Indian urban and rural areas as concerns over fuel supplies grow. Businesses appear the most affected: the biggest crunch is in commercial eateries.

"The situation is dire. LPG simply isn't available," says a representative of the an industry group.

Most eateries run either on commercial LPG cylinders or direct gas lines, and the shortages are now being noticed across the country. "Many restaurants have shut down - some in northern India, many in the southern states. People are turning to coal and wood and induction stoves to keep food preparation going."

City-Specific Fallout

In a western metro, local news say up to a 20% of eateries are already fully or partly shut as business fuel stocks dwindle. In the southern cities of Bengaluru and Chennai, some eateries say their gas stocks have shrunk with scarce alternatives. "We can only make coffee and no food items - it is truly dismal. Commerce will take a hit," says a business operator in Bengaluru.

Restaurant managers are scrambling to adapt. "Menus are being curtailed, some are skipping midday meals and opening only for dinner," an industry representative says, adding that shutdowns are changing as supplies wax and wane. "A number of eateries in Delhi were shut yesterday - two have already reopened. It's a fluid situation."

Retailers note a surge in sales of electric cookers, with some saying they are facing stockouts.

Authority's View

Yet, the authorities states there is no shortage.

India has more than 30 crore domestic LPG users and authorities say cylinders are being reallocated to households as geopolitical strain from the war in the Gulf ripple through energy markets.

Roughly 60% of India's LPG is sourced from abroad, and about the vast majority of those consignments pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the vital passage now significantly disrupted by the conflict.

The petroleum ministry says that it directed refineries to boost LPG output for home needs, raising domestic production by about a quarter. Non-domestic supply is being prioritised for essential sectors such as medical and academic centers, while distribution will be "fair and transparent".

"Unnecessary hoarding and accumulation has been caused by false reports. The standard supply timeline for domestic LPG remains about two-and-a-half days," says a senior official.

Spreading Anxiety

Now the worry is spreading beyond kitchens. On digital platforms, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a lengthy, winding line of scooters outside a gas outlet. "Anxiety is palpable," the caption reads.

According to reports from energy specialists, concerns about India's broader fuel supplies may be overstated.

India imports 90% of its petroleum. Around a significant portion of its crude oil imports - about 2.5-2.7 million barrels a day - travel through the passage, largely from Middle Eastern nations.

Even if oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz are disrupted, the shortfall could be partly made up by higher imports of discounted Russian crude, according to a sector expert.

Based on maritime intelligence and credible market sources, increased Russian crude imports could reach around 1-1.2 million barrels a day, reducing India's effective gap 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 in transit at sea in the Indian Ocean and, with only key buyers as major buyers, those barrels remain a available backup," an analyst noted.

Cooking Gas: The Critical Weakness

The key weakness is LPG, experts note.

India consumes roughly 1 million barrels a day, but produces only a minority share domestically, importing the rest - most of it through the chokepoint.

Refineries can tweak operations to extract a bit more LPG, but even a moderate increase would only lift domestic supply to about around half of demand, leaving the country significantly leaning on imports.

In short: "Oil import vulnerability can be moderately reduced through varied suppliers. Fuel availability remains fairly adequate. LPG availability is the real variable to watch in the coming weeks."

What may be worsening the panic on the ground is not just limited availability but patchy deliveries - and the common threat of hoarding.

An industry representative claims price gouging.

"Suppliers are taking advantage of the situation - black-marketing cylinders and selling them at a premium. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being accumulated and sold at a premium."

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