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

The shockwaves of a military engagement being fought nearly 3,000km away are now reaching India's households.

As aerial attacks on Iran disrupt energy deliveries through the Strait of Hormuz, supplies of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are shrinking across India, compelling restaurants to reduce offerings, reduce operating times and in some cases shut down altogether.

Social media is filled with video clips showing crowds outside fuel suppliers across Indian urban and rural areas as anxieties over fuel supplies escalate. Restaurant kitchens appear the most affected: the biggest crunch is in commercial eateries.

"The state of affairs is alarming. Kitchen fuel simply is unavailable," says a official of the National Restaurant Association of India.

Most restaurants run either on industrial fuel canisters or pipeline-supplied fuel, and the lack of supply are now being noticed across the country. "Many restaurants have shut down - some in the capital, many in the southern states. People are switching to traditional burners and electric cookers to keep kitchens going."

Regional Impact

In Mumbai, accounts say up to a 20% of hospitality businesses are already operating at reduced capacity as commercial LPG supplies dry up. In the southern cities of Bangalore and Madras, some restaurants say their fuel reserves have depleted with minimal reserves. "Our menu is reduced to coffee and no other dishes - it is extremely difficult. Commerce will take a hit," says a restaurant owner in Bengaluru.

Restaurant managers are rushing to adjust. "Food options are being cut, some are cutting lunch service 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 fluid situation."

Retailers report a spike in sales of induction stoves, with some saying they are facing stockouts.

Authority's View

Yet, the authorities maintains there is no shortage.

India has more than 30 crore home fuel subscribers and officials say cylinders are being redirected to households as conflict-related stress from the Middle East conflict ripple through energy markets.

Approximately a majority of India's LPG is sourced from abroad, and about nine out of ten of those consignments pass through the key maritime route, the narrow Gulf chokepoint now largely blocked 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. Commercial stock is being prioritised for critical services such as medical and academic centers, while distribution will be "fair and transparent".

"Unnecessary hoarding and hoarding has been sparked by false reports. The standard supply timeline for domestic LPG remains about under three days," says a ministry representative.

Spreading Anxiety

Now the anxiety is extending beyond kitchens. On social media, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a lengthy, winding line of motorbikes outside a petrol pump. "The panic is real," the text reads.

According to reports from energy specialists, concerns about India's broader petroleum stocks may be premature.

India imports almost all of its petroleum. Around half of its petroleum shipments - about 2.5-2.7 million barrels a day - travel through the strait, largely from Gulf countries.

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 refinery and oil markets analyst.

Based on maritime intelligence and industry information, incremental Russian crude imports could reach around 1-1.2 million barrels a day, reducing India's effective deficit from exposure to the Strait of Hormuz to about 1.6 million barrels a day.

"A large quantity of Russian oil barrels are currently in transit at sea in the Indian Ocean and, with only India and China as major buyers, those barrels remain a available backup," an analyst noted.

Cooking Gas: The Critical Weakness

The key weakness is cooking gas, analysts say.

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

Refineries can tweak operations to squeeze out a bit more LPG, but even a limited rise would only raise domestic supply to about under half of demand, leaving the country heavily reliant on imports.

In short: "Crude supply risk can be partially mitigated through diversification. Fuel availability remains largely sufficient. Cooking gas supply is the key factor to track in the coming weeks."

What may be heightening the panic on the ground is not just scarcity but erratic supply chains - and the common threat of hoarding.

An industry representative alleges price gouging.

"Retailers are misusing the situation - selling fuel on the black market and selling them at a high cost. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being stockpiled and sold at a premium."

For now, India's oil supplies may be buffered by global trade flows. But in kitchens across the country, the more urgent issue is simple: how to get the next refill.