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

The shockwaves of a war being fought nearly 3,000km away are now being felt in India's kitchens.

As US-Israeli strikes on Iran disrupt energy shipments through the key maritime chokepoint, stocks of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are shrinking across India, compelling restaurants to reduce offerings, reduce operating times and in some cases close completely.

Social media is flooded by video clips showing crowds outside fuel suppliers across Indian metros and localities as anxieties over fuel supplies escalate. Commercial LPG users appear the hardest struck: the biggest crunch is in food service establishments.

"The situation is dire. Kitchen fuel simply is unavailable," says a official of the an industry group.

Most restaurants run either on industrial fuel canisters or direct gas lines, and the shortages are now being felt across the country. "Numerous restaurants have shut down - some in Delhi, many in the southern region. People are switching to traditional burners and induction stoves to keep food preparation going."

Regional Impact

In Mumbai, media reports say up to a 20% of hotels and restaurants are already operating at reduced capacity as business fuel stocks dry up. In the southern cities of tech and coastal hubs, some restaurants say their fuel reserves have shrunk with minimal reserves. "Our menu is reduced to coffee and no other dishes - it is extremely difficult. Commerce will take a hit," says a business operator in Bengaluru.

Restaurant managers are seeking alternatives. "Food options are being cut, some are opening only for dinner and opening only for dinner," an industry representative says, adding that stoppages are varying as supplies ebb and flow. "A number of eateries in Delhi were shut yesterday - a couple are back in business. It's a fluid situation."

Retailers report a spike in sales of induction stoves, with some saying they are selling out quickly.

Authority's View

Yet, the authorities insists there is adequate supply.

India has more than 30 crore domestic LPG users and authorities say supplies are being redirected to households as tensions from the regional hostilities affect energy markets.

About 60% of India's LPG is imported, and about the vast majority of those imports pass through the key maritime route, the vital passage now effectively closed by the hostilities.

The petroleum ministry says that it instructed refineries to maximise LPG output for domestic use, lifting domestic production by about a significant margin. Non-domestic supply is being prioritised for essential sectors such as healthcare and education, while distribution will be "fair and transparent".

"Some panic booking and stockpiling has been caused by false reports. The standard supply timeline for domestic LPG remains about two-and-a-half days," says a government spokesperson.

Spreading Anxiety

Now the concern is spreading beyond kitchens. On online networks, a widely shared video from Chennai shows a lengthy, winding line of motorbikes outside a gas outlet. "Concern is genuine," the caption reads.

According to analysis from energy specialists, concerns about India's broader energy security may be exaggerated.

India imports the overwhelming majority of its crude oil. Around half of its crude oil imports - about 2.5-2.7 million barrels a day - travel through the passage, largely from regional suppliers.

Even if petroleum transit through the Strait of Hormuz are blocked, the gap could be partly made up by higher imports of discounted Russian crude, according to a industry commentator.

Based on shipping data and expert analysis, additional Russian crude imports could reach around 1-1.2 million barrels a day, lessening India's effective gap from exposure to the Strait of Hormuz to about a substantial volume of barrels a day.

"A large quantity of Russian oil barrels are currently floating on ships in the Indian Ocean and, with only two major Asian economies as major buyers, those barrels remain a available backup," an analyst noted.

Kitchen Fuel: The Primary Concern

The key weakness is kitchen fuel, analysts say.

India consumes roughly a million barrels a day, but produces only 40-45% domestically, importing the rest - most of it through Hormuz.

Refineries can modify output to squeeze out a bit more LPG, but even a 10-20% boost would only lift domestic supply to about under half of demand, leaving the country significantly leaning on imports.

In short: "Crude supply risk can be moderately reduced through diversification. Fuel availability remains relatively comfortable. Cooking gas supply is the critical issue to watch in the coming weeks."

What may be heightening the concern on the ground is not just limited availability but uneven distribution - and the familiar spectre of panic buying.

An industry representative claims price gouging.

"Distributors are taking advantage of the situation - black-marketing cylinders and selling them at a high cost. In one small town, I heard of cylinders being stockpiled and sold to the highest bidder."

For now, India's petroleum stocks may be protected by international market dynamics. But in homes across the country, the more urgent issue is simple: how to get the next gas canister.