The Maharashtra government on Thursday announced that control rooms and district-level committees would be established to monitor the supply of domestic and commercial LPG cylinders amid concerns arising from the West Asia conflict and the subsequent disruption of energy supply.

The move is aimed at ensuring that cooking gas continues to reach consumers without disruption, according to an official statement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said certain individuals are attempting to spread panic over LPG availability, adding such actions are revealing their own intentions.

The Prime Minister highlighted consistent efforts are underway to ensure smooth energy supply across the country.

Several restaurants and small eateries across the national capital have reportedly halted services as a shortage of LPG disrupted regular cooking operations.

The supply crunch has forced many establishments to suspend service. Restaurant owners say the disruption is significantly affecting their daily business and revenue.

Nepal is set to begin rationing cooking gas amid fears that the Middle East conflict could create a nationwide shortage, an official said on Thursday.

Chandika Prasad Bhatta, executive director of state-run Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) said authorities would refill only half of consumers’ empty cylinders starting from Friday to make its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stocks last longer, Reuters reported.

The Kolkata police on Thursday initiated a drive against the alleged hoarding and black marketing of LPG cylinders as supply shortages of cooking gas continue to affect several households in West Bengal, a senior official said.

The action follows directions from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who directed authorities to curb the illegal marketing of gas cylinders.

The Trinamool Congress on Thursday targeted the BJP-led central government over the ongoing LPG shortage amid energy supply disruption due to the West Asia conflict. The TMC alleged a series of policy decisions over the years has repeatedly forced citizens to endure long queues during crises.

In a post on X, the party said the government has “ek hi naara, line mein rahe desh bechara”.

Union Minister Hardeep Puri said the government has prioritised sectors including, hospitals and educational institutions, regarding the supply of non-domestic LPG.

“Regarding non-domestic LPG or the commercial LPG, as already told, we have prioritized certain sectors like hospitals and educational institutions. And for rest of the consumers, a three-member committee of the executive directors of oil marketing companies has been formed. They have received certain representations, they have gone through it and a major decision has been taken”, he said.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said state governments have been requested to identify the list of beneficiaries in order to prioritise the delivery of cylinders and commercial cylinders.

“State governments have been requested through our oil marketing companies to identify the list of the beneficiaries so that the delivery of the cylinders, commercial cylinders, can be made on a priority basis. And also this is important because we want to avoid hoarding or black marketing”, Puri said.

Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri addressed the concerns about the availability of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in India amid the West Asia crisis. He highlighted that the surge in demand and the subsequent bookings is due to the panic among consumers.

“There is manifold increase in the bookings because of the panic. The urgency is also there, panic booking and efforts have to be made to conserve the fuel wherever possible during this period of global uncertainty”, Puri told the Lok Sabha.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri acknowledged that the West Asia conflict created a difficult situation in terms of the supply of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). However, he said, the government is taking all necessary steps to ensure a smooth supply to the domestic consumers.

“We know that we import almost 60% of our LPG and most of it, almost 90% comes from Strait of Hormuz. So it’s a difficult situation, but the government is making all efforts to ensure that the supply to the domestic consumers is ensured. As I already said that the LPG production in the refinery has enhanced. We have almost 25,000 distributors throughout the country and we deliver almost 50 lakh cylinders on daily basis”, Puri told the Lok Sabha.

Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum, addressed the media amid concerns about fuel shortage in India following the West Asia conflict and the subsequent disruption in energy supply.

“In terms of the crude oil supply in India, the situation is quite comfortable”, she said, adding the country receives 55 lakh barrels of oil every day.

“We are the fourth-largest refiner in the world. This is something that gives us a lot of comfort in terms of the availability of products like petrol and diesel”, Sharma said

Addressing the Lok Sabha, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said India possesses sufficient gas production and supply arrangements to sustain even if the West Asia conflict stretches further.

“India has sufficient gas production and supply arrangements to sustain the situation even in the event of a prolonged conflict. Power generation for every household and for industry is fully protected”, he stated.

Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said India’s non-Hormuz crude sourcing had increased to 70 per cent of imports.

“Refineries are operating at high capacity utilization. In several cases, they are exceeding 100%. There is no shortage of petrol, diesel, kerosene, ATF, alternative fuel, fuel oil. The availability of petrol, diesel, aviation, turbine fuel, kerosene, and fuel oil is fully assured”, he said in the Lok Sabha.

Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri told the Lok Sabha that the ongoing West Asia crisis has created an unprecedented situation in global energy markets. He said the world has rarely witnessed such a moment in the history of the energy sector.

Meanwhile, he also assured there’s no shortage of LPG, Kerosene and crude oil in the country.

Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Puri, said in the Parliament that India’s sources crude, gas from 40 nations now.

He assured there is no shortage of LPG, Kerosene and crude oil. The statement comes amid the mounting concerns around the availability of LPG cylinders following reports of energy supply disruption due to the West Asia conflict.

Union Minister Suresh Gopi said on Thursday that the government of India is actively addressing the reported shortage of liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) across the country in view of the escalating tensions in West Asia.

Speaking to news agency ANI, he said strict action could be taken against black marketing and hoarding of LPG cylinders. Gopi assured the government is keeping an eye on the situation amid global disruptions in petroleum supplies.

The minister noted that the government’s priority is to maintain smooth distribution and prevent any artificial scarcity.

Amid the raging concerns over LPG availability, retailers in the national capital have reported a sharp increase in the sale of induction cooktops and other electrical cooking appliances.

Shopkeepers observed demand has increased over the past two days, as customers look for alternatives to LPG cylinders amid the crisis.

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said India has received requests from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Maldives, for energy supply. However, the requests will be processed, keeping in mind the country’s own requirements and refining capacity, he said.

The Congress party staged protests in the Chhattisgarh assembly, claiming that people in the state have been facing a shortage of cooking gas cylinders.

They also demanded a discussion on the issue.

A shortage of cooking gas has begun to disrupt corporate offices in India, with HCLTech allowing employees at its Chennai office to work from home on March 12 and 13 after cafeteria operations were hit by the LPG crunch, according to a report by Mint.

The move came after several cafeteria vendors were unable to operate due to the shortage of commercial LPG cylinders, prompting the company to offer employees the option of remote work for two days, Mint reported citing two senior executives aware of the development.

The disruption highlights the spillover impact of the ongoing LPG supply constraints, which have already forced many restaurants in several cities to temporarily shut operations as commercial cylinders become scarce.

According to the report, the issue is also beginning to affect corporate campuses that rely heavily on commercial LPG for large-scale food preparation.

The Uttarakhand government has decided to give priority access to commercial LPG cylinders to hospitals and educational institutions amid concerns about possible supply disruptions due to the conflict in West Asia.

State officials said the move is aimed at ensuring that essential services continue without interruption if gas supplies become affected.

Authorities also said preparations are underway to arrange firewood for commercial use if the situation requires alternative fuel sources.

At the same time, the state government clarified that there is currently no shortage of LPG cylinders in Uttarakhand and that supplies remain stable for now.

The impact of the LPG crisis across the nation in India due to the Iran-US war hasn’t left the corporate world untouched and unscathed. With reports coming from all directions on the scarcity of LPG cylinders and black marketeering forcing several restaurants across big cities to shut down their operations and reduce the number of items available on the menus, IT company Infosys has followed the route.

Infosys tells its employees that some food items won’t be available for employees across campuses in Bengaluru, Chennai and Pune. According to Moneycontrol report, Infosys sent an email to its staff saying that the company is dealing with an “impending situation’ related to the availability of LPG, forcing operational adjustments beginning March 12.

BRS Working President KT Rama Rao has written to the Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, urging immediate intervention to address the “severe shortage” of commercial and domestic LPG cylinders.

The LPG shortage has begun affecting Indira Canteens in Bengaluru, with contractors reporting difficulties in preparing food due to a lack of cooking gas. The contracting company Rewards has written to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations, raising concerns about the shortage.

In the letter, the company said there is not enough gas available for food preparation at the canteens. It urged authorities to intervene and take necessary steps to ensure an uninterrupted supply so that meals can continue to be served.

Contractors said the gas shortage has started affecting food preparation, leading to delays in supply. They warned that if the problem continues, it may become difficult to continue providing food at the canteens.

At the Vasanth Nagar Indira Canteen kitchen, staff said they do not currently have enough gas to cook from tomorrow. A gas cylinder arrived late last night and is being used for today’s cooking.

Food prepared at the Vasanth Nagar kitchen is supplied to 14 Indira Canteens. Staff said if fresh cylinders are not delivered soon, all 14 canteens that depend on this kitchen may have to shut operations tomorrow.

A long queue of people with LPG gas cylinders seen outside a gas agency in East Delhi’s Geeta Colony.

Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan has asked states and Union Territories to monitor local LPG supplies daily and act strictly against violations or black-marketing.

Mohan chaired a high-level meeting with Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police from all states and UTs on Wednesday to review the supply and distribution of Liquefied Petroleum Gas across the country.

Officials said the Home Secretary emphasised preventing hoarding, illegal diversion, and profiteering. Law enforcement agencies were directed to keep a close watch on dealers, transporters, and storage facilities, ensuring smooth and uninterrupted availability of domestic cooking gas to households.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has called for a discussion in Parliament over LPG ‘shortage’ concerns and rising cylinder prices.

Speaking on the issue, Tharoor said such concerns must be debated in Parliament so the government can inform the public about the situation. He pointed to long queues for LPG cylinders and the recent increase in prices as issues affecting people across the country.

Tharoor said the opposition is only asking for a discussion and clear assurances from the government. He added that the government should not run affairs solely according to its own will.

Opposition MPs staging a protest in the Parliament premises over the reports of nationwide shortage of LPG gas cylinders.