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Informist, Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026

NEW DELHI – The government Thursday appealed to consumers to avoid panic booking of liquefied petroleum gas cylinders, saying such behaviour was burdening the distribution and creating shortages. Briefing media on the situation arising from the West Asia conflict, Sujata Sharma, joint secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said the availability of crude oil is "quite comfortable" and that there have been no reports of petrol, diesel, or cooking gas running out at retail outlets.

Production of liquefied petroleum gas has been ramped up, Sharma said. She was addressing a press conference as part of an inter-ministerial group of officials formed to coordinate and monitor the situation.

India imports over 60% of its natural gas, and of this, around 90% passes through the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping has been affected by the conflict. "It's a difficult situation, but the government is making efforts so that supply to the domestic consumers is ensured," Sharma said.  

Sharma said there is a "manifold increase" in bookings for cooking gas cylinders because of the panic. "We urge citizens to conserve fuel wherever possible during this period of global uncertainty." She said that state governments will have to prioritise the delivery of commercial LPG cylinders to beneficiaries.

"Alternate fuel options are being activated to ease pressure on LPG and natural gas. Another 48,000 kilolitre of kerosene will be released to the state governments. The coal ministry has issued directions for the availability of coal to small, medium and other consumers," she said, adding that the government has also eased environmental norms to allow the use of alternate fuels.

Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the Indian embassy in Tehran was helping Indians who want to leave Iran via Armenia and Azerbaijan to obtain visas and facilitate their passage across the borders of these countries.

On the safety of the large number of Indians living in West Asia, Additional Secretary (Gulf) Assem Mahajan said the external affairs ministry was in touch with the host governments, and that the Indian missions there "are working 24x7".  He said flights from the United Arab Emirates have been "ramped up". He said 130,000 passengers have returned to India since the conflict began.

"Air India and IndiGo are restarting operations from Riyadh today. From Jeddah and Medina, we already have flights. Umrah passengers are travelling regularly," Mahajan said.

Rajesh Kumar Sinha, special secretary in the Ministry of Shipping, said 28 Indian vessels with 778 seafarers on board are stuck in the Gulf region. Of these, 24 are west of the Strait of Hormuz, and four vessels are east of the Strait of Hormuz. End

Reported by Asim Khan and Krity Ambey

Edited by Saji George Titus

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