LPG and oil crisis updates - March 13: LPG imports a slight concern, official says; consumers urged to consider switching to piped gas

The impact of the LPG crisis, particularly on the hotel and restaurant sector in Kerala, has stoked fears of a ripple effect, with domestic LPG customers worried about a possible shortage. Images of consumers queuing up outside agencies with empty cylinders in other States have not helped.

Sanal Kumar, general secretary of the All India LPG Distributors’ Federation (Kerala circle), however denies any shortage of domestic LPG cylinders. “The government is maintaining a steady supply of LPG by prioritising supplies to domestic LPG consumers,” he says, terming the decision prudent.

Shivalik, an Indian-flagged LPG carrier with a cargo-carrying capacity of more than 54,000 tonnes, has crossed the Strait of Hormuz as on Friday night (March 13, 2026), according to marinetraffic.com, an online portal that tracks merchant ships movement.

As per the website, the ship had departed from Ras Laffan, Qatar, on March 7 and was originally destined for the U.S. The Indian Navy has denied reports that the Shivalik is being guided by naval vessels. 

Indian LPG carrier crosses Strait of Hormuz: marine traffic website

Indian LPG carrier Shivalik successfully crosses the Strait of Hormuz amid regional tensions, according to marine traffic reports.

Despite the Delhi government assuring people that the supply of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), petrol, diesel, and piped natural gas across the national capital remains normal, a sense of panic continued to prevail with people lining up in large numbers outside gas agencies in the city on Friday (March 13, 2026) amid the escalating conflict in West Asia.

The situation prompted the police to enhance security measures outside gas agencies to prevent untoward incidents involving distribution of LPG cylinders.

Security stepped up outside gas agencies in Delhi; leaves of police personnel cancelled

Delhi enhances security at gas agencies amid LPG supply concerns, with police personnel's leaves canceled to maintain order.

A.P. Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav on Friday (March 13, 2026) suggested that hoteliers in the State consider adopting rotational operations in view of the ongoing cooking gas scarcity triggered by unrest in the Middle East. He proposed a system of alternate day operations, under which different sets of hotels could keep their establishments open on different days.

He also advised star hotels, which often serve up to 45 varieties of dishes in their daily menus, to consider reducing the number of items offered in order to conserve LPG.

Fuel crisis: hoteliers advised to trim menus, cut operating hours

Finance Minister advises hoteliers to reduce menu items and consider alternate day operations amid cooking gas scarcity in the State.

Supply crunch of industrial gases has adversely impacted several plants, Jindal Stainless MD Abhyuday Jindal said on Friday.

He also sought clarity on the allocation percentage for industrial propane/LPG and natural gas, along with assurance of regular supplies, for the stainless steel industry.

Jindal Stainless is India’s largest stainless steel manufacturing company with a 0.8 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) capacity in Hisar (Haryana) and a 2.2-MTPA facility in Jajpur (Odisha).

Speaking about the impact of the ongoing war in West Asia on his business operations, Jindal said that due to the heavy dependence of stainless steel manufacturing on industrial gases such as propane/LPG and natural gas, several processes across our plants have been adversely impacted.-- PTI

One of the four vessels, Jag Prakash [oil tanker] has moved. Thus, implying there are three vessels in the Eastern part with 76 people onboard said Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary, Ministry of Shipping and Waterways.

“There are 23,000 Indians working in the Gulf region on merchant, harbour or offshore vessels. Directorate General of Shipping is in constant touch with them and all relevant stakeholders, Mr. Sinha said 

“In the last few days, 170 Indian nationals have crossed through the land border into Armenia from Iran. Several of them have come back to India, and others would be coming back taking commercial flights from Armenia,” said Randhir Jaiswal, MEA Spokesperson.-- Saptaparno Ghosh

“LPG supply is an issue of concern for us, especially because a major chunk of imports route from Strait of Hormuz. Nevertheless, 25,000 distributors have not reported any dry out,” said Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary, MoPNG 

“Cylinder bookings average 55.7 lakh refills from March 1 till date. However, data indicates booking requests peaked to 69 lakh refills on March 10, and 75.7 refills on March 12 because on panic booking behaviour, “ she said. 

“India has 1.5 crore households being supplied piped natural gas with another 60 lakh households which can easily switch to piped cooking gas. Would urge consumers to consider switching so as to reduce the pressure on LPG,” Ms. Sharma said.Read more-- Saptaparno Ghosh

India’s Jindal Stainless on Friday said that its plants were operating at a reduced capacity because of fuel ‌shortages in the wake of disruptions from the Middle East war.

“Due ⁠to the heavy dependence of stainless steel manufacturing on industrial gases such as propane/LPG and natural gas, several processes across our plants have ‌been adversely impacted,” the company said ‌in ⁠an exchange filing.

India’s crude oil, ⁠LPG, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies have been disrupted due to shipping constraints after the U.S. and Israel’s ‌war with Iran halted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, compelling India to scramble for alternatives such as buying ‌more from Russia.

- Reuters

The Gujarat Government on Friday dismissed the Opposition’s claims about an LPG and natural gas shortage triggered by the conflict in West Asia, assuring the legislative Assembly that the State has a stock of more than four lakh cylinders.

Congress MLAs, earlier in the day, staged a protest outside the Assembly complex demanding that LPG cylinders be provided to homemakers at ₹450.

Senior Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar raised the issue in the House, saying concerns have emerged among citizens regarding the availability of LPG, PNG and CNG in the state amid the U.S.-Israel-Iran war.

“Due to the war in the Gulf, a situation has arisen in the state regarding gas cylinders — whether it is LPG, PNG or CNG. The war has just begun, and in the initial days itself, the government is giving assurances to people. Thousands of people are standing in queues outside gas agencies and other places,” Mr. Parmar said.

- PTI

Two ⁠liquefied ‌petroleum gas ‌cargoes ‌from ⁠Australia ⁠are coming ‌to Indonesia ‌later this month, ⁠Indonesia’s ‌Energy ‌Minister said on ⁠Friday.

- Reuters

The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Committee on Friday sought the Petroleum Minister’s help in ensuring a steady supply of LPG cylinders to ensure the ‘langar’ (community kitchen) service continues without fail.

In a letter to Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, the DSGMC said the war in West Asia has affected the langar service across gurdwaras for want of LPG because its supply has been “stopped” by the gas agencies.

A DSGMC office-bearer said that although there is a piped natural gas supply in bigger gurdwaras, the smaller ones depend on LPG cylinders for running the langar kitchens.

The DSGMC is a statutory body established under the Delhi Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1971, that looks after the religious matters of Sikhs and the upkeep of gurdwaras in the city.

- PTI

Amid concerns over LPG availability in Himachal Pradesh, the State Government on Friday assured that there is no panic situation and adequate stocks of cylinders are available across the State.

Speaking to ANI in Shimla, Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh Sanjay Gupta said that panic booking by consumers had created temporary pressure on the servers of oil marketing companies.

“We don’t have any panic situation right now, but people are panicking. Because of that, they are trying to book their gas as soon as possible, and due to this, the servers of oil marketing companies are facing some problems. We are sorting that out,” Mr. Gupta said.

He informed that sufficient LPG stock is currently available in the State. According to the Chief Secretary, around 73,000 domestic LPG cylinders and 10,000 commercial cylinders are presently available, while additional supplies are on the way.

- ANI

A shortage of domestic and commercial LPG cylinders, triggered by panic amid the conflict in West Asia, has affected the coaching hub of Kota, where around 4,000 hostels and over 500 mess facilities serve about one lakh students preparing for competitive exams.

District Collector Piyush Samaria on Thursday evening issued directions to ensure regular LPG cylinder supply to domestic consumers, hospitals and coaching institutions (with hostels), while imposing strict restrictions on the sale and supply of commercial LPG cylinders to other commercial establishments.

Following directions from the State Government, Samaria also ordered the formation of committees to ensure a smooth supply of LPG cylinders in the district and prevent hoarding and black marketing.

- PTI

Opposition parties on Friday urged the Centre to take immediate steps to address the alleged shortage of LPG cylinders in several parts of the country, even as the ruling alliance leaders backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accused the opposition of misleading the public over the issue.

The reactions came a day after PM Modi hit out at those “creating panic” over the LPG situation and asked State Governments to enhance monitoring to curb black-marketing and hoarding of cylinders.

Addressing the NXT Summit in New Delhi, PM Modi also said that due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, no nation has remained unaffected, but India is fully committed to addressing the challenge and is leaving no stone unturned to safeguard its energy security.

- PTI

Congress workers held demonstrations at several places in Rajasthan on Friday over the crisis in the supply of LPG cylinders amid the West Asia crisis and accused the government of causing hardship for the public.

The protests took place in cities including Jaipur, Ajmer, Jaisalmer, Nagaur, and Alwar.

During the protest in Jaipur, former Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas criticised the BJP Government and alleged that people were unable to cook food due to the alleged shortage of cylinders and rising prices.

Congress leaders warned that their agitation would escalate if the government failed to address the issue and restore normal gas supply soon.

- PTI

Legislators of the ruling coalition of the JMM, Congress and RJD staged a demonstration outside the Jharkhand assembly on Friday to protest against the LPG cylinder crisis.

Holding banners and posters, the MLAs raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central government for the alleged shortage of cooking gas in the wake of the West Asia conflict. “Narendra Modi is missing from Parliament; cylinders are missing from the country,” read some of the posters displayed by the legislators during the protest.

Congress MLA Deepika Pandey Singh alleged that prices of gas cylinders were continuously rising due to the central government’s policies.

“It is difficult to even book LPG cylinders now. All this is due to failure of the policies of the central government, which is exacerbating the hardships faced by the common people,” Singh asserted.

JMM MLA Mangal Kalindi said the “burden of inflation” is directly impacting poor and middle-class families.

“People are being forced to stand in long queues for hours just to procure a gas cylinder, and even after this, they are often unable to obtain one. Many people are rushing to buy induction ovens to cope with the crisis, which is further affecting their family budget,” Mr. Kalindi claimed. -- PTI

The supply of commercial LPG cylinders would be prioritised to hospitals, hostels and residential schools, Food and Civil Supplies Minister K.H. Muniyappa announced in the Karnataka Legislative Council on March 13. Hotels will have to wait for at least a week by which time supply of LPG cylinders is expected to improve, he added.

LPG crisis: Who gets priority in supply of cylinders in Karnataka

Karnataka prioritises LPG supply for hospitals and schools amid crisis; hotels must wait a week for deliveries.

The nationwide Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) supply disruption, which appeared manageable in Hyderabad in the past few days, began affecting the city’s hospitality sector more severely on Friday (March 13, 2026) with several restaurants and hotels either shutting operations or restricting services.

​

Over a 100 hotels in Kochi city in Kerala have downed shutters as the LPG crisis deepens in the wake of the ongoing West Asia conflict, triggering a cascading effect across multiple sectors.

Even eateries that remain open have pared down menus to avoid a complete shutdown, restricting certain items to specific time slots. Several hotel brands have issued social media advisories urging customers to cooperate. Tawa-based dishes have virtually disappeared, given the high LPG consumption the appliance entails.

LPG shortage forces closure of over 100 Kochi hotels in Kerala

LPG shortage leads to the closure of over 100 hotels in Kochi, with remaining eateries limiting menu options amid the crisis.

An acute shortage of LPG linked to the escalating conflict in West Asia has begun to hit the hospitality sector in Kannur district, with around 40 hotels facing the risk of closure as the supply of commercial cylinders has virtually stopped in recent days.

The crisis has already forced the Ghazal, a prominent hotel and 10 others in Kannur city to shut down after it was unable to obtain LPG cylinder required for daily operations.

Manoj Kumar, hotel manager, said that for the last two days there is no supply of cylinder. “We are forced to close down. Today we have just a cylinder, which is needed to prepare food for over 30 staffs.” he said.

Most of the staff are our from other States and if they leave, it will become even more difficult to run the business, he said. In the absence of cylinder, the cost of firewood have also escalated and the government should immediately intervene, he added.

LPG shortage hits hotels in Kerala’s Kannur; about 40 units face closure, black marketing alleged

LPG shortage in Kannur threatens 40 hotels with closure, amid allegations of black marketing and soaring prices.

The worsening LPG shortage has started impacting food supply on film locations in the Malayalam film industry.

As per the estimates by the Kerala Film Producers’ Association (KFPA), the shooting of nearly 18 movies are progressing. “We have stock for two days more. But the situation will turn difficult if the situation persists,’ said B. Rakesh, president of the KFPA.

LPG crisis: Malayalam film industry starts feeling the heat as production schedules hit

The LPG crisis is impacting the Malayalam film industry, threatening food supply and production schedules for ongoing movie shoots.

Various IT companies functioning at the Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, are considering shifting to work from home (WFH) mode as the functioning of food courts have been affected due to the shortage of LPG cylinders due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

“Over the past two days, the shortage of LPG has really begun affecting the functioning of the food courts and cafeterias. Some of the counters in the food courts stopped functioning yesterday (Thursday). The ones that are functioning are operating with minimal menu and are preparing only limited number of items. Although no company has yet taken a decision to completely shift to WFH, quite a few are likely to consider the prospect soon,” says Vineeth Chandran, secretary of Prathidhwani, welfare organisation of IT employees.

Technopark IT firms in Kerala mull shifting to WFH as LPG shortage hits food services

Technopark IT companies in Thiruvananthapuram may shift to WFH due to LPG shortages affecting food services.

Tea rates go up in Hyderabad due to LPG shortage. “The ₹10 tea is now ₹12, the ₹15 tea is now ₹20. The average increase is ₹5,” said Prasad who runs a small tea kiosk in Ambedkarnagar near Ameerpet in Hyderabad.

A 19-kg commercial cooking gas cylinder was allegedly stolen from a hotel in the busy Chala market area in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, in the early hours of Friday (March 13, 2026), the police said.

The theft of cooking gas was reported at VS Hotel in at 2 am on Friday amid the worsening LPG shortage in the country following the war in West Asia.

LPG cylinder stolen from restaurant in Kerala capital amid shortage

LPG cylinder stolen from a Thiruvananthapuram restaurant amid a national shortage, forcing the establishment to shut down.

The shortage of commercial gas following the Iran war-induced regulations has started derailing the functioning of several small scale hotels in Kozhikode district of Kerala, apart from affecting the free-meals supply schemes. Hotel and restaurant operators say they are trying to meet the challenge using the traditional firewood kitchens and reducing the total production.

LPG crisis: Shortage of commercial gas hits more sectors in Kerala’s Kozhikode district

Kozhikode faces an LPG crisis, impacting hotels, charity meal services, and auto-rickshaw drivers amid ongoing gas shortages.

A massive surge in panic buying has led to the collapse of LPG booking system at several distribution points across Telangana.

According to Telangana LPG Distributors Association president Kalluri Jagan Mohan Reddy, the sudden spike in orders has paralysed the distribution network, disrupting operations at many LPG distribution centres in the State.

He said the unexpected rush of consumers to book cylinders has strained the system, triggering both technical and operational difficulties at multiple locations on Thursday (March 12, 2026).

“There is no problem with respect to domestic cylinders. There is a regular supply also. But there is panic booking among the consumers, so pendency is increasing. Since there is a sudden surge in business by 50%, there is a delay in supplying. It is because of panic buying,” Mr. Reddy told PTI.

Since the delivery of LPG cylinders is based on OTP system, which is an all India based network for authentication across the country, there is tremendous pressure at the distribution points.

There are 810 LPG distributors in Telangana with 1.30 crore consumers and about 60 lakh LPG domestic cylinders are supplied every month. -- PTI

Moscow said on Friday (March 13, 2026) that the global energy market “cannot remain stable” without its oil, piling pressure on Washington to lift more sanctions as the West Asia war strangles supplies.

The United States has eased some oil sanctions on Russia imposed over its invasion of Ukraine, prompting backlash from Western allies who urged Washington to keep up restrictions as the Ukraine conflict drags into its fifth year.

The U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory attacks across the Gulf region have upended the world’s energy and transport sectors, virtually halting activity in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

The United States is temporarily allowing the sale of oil from Russia — one of the world’s largest oil producers and exporters — that is at sea, the Treasury Department said Thursday, as nations scrambled to boost supply and bring down prices.

Oil prices soared to almost $120 a barrel this week, the highest price since the pandemic. -- AFP

Telangana Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Thursday (March 12, 2026) said the state government has convened a meeting with the representatives of Oil Marketing Companies (OMC) to take stock of the Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) supply and to finalise its course of action. There has been no problem in the supply of domestic LPG cylinders so far, he said.

“We are monitoring the situation with regard to LPG. In Telangana, domestic supply is 86% and commercial supply is 14%. There is no problem in 86% domestic supply so far. Some problems have come to our notice over commercial supply,” he told reporters.

86% of LPG supply in Telangana used domestically; problems in commercial supply come to our notice: Uttam

Telangana government meets oil companies to address LPG supply issues and assess commercial cylinder shortages affecting local businesses.

The LPG cylinder that once arrived like clockwork every three weeks has now become a source of anxiety in group chats across urban India. By early March, the Government had invoked the Essential Commodities Act, increased domestic cylinder prices by ₹60, extended the refill booking cycle from 21 to 25 days, and halted commercial gas supplies in Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata.

What happens when the cylinder doesn’t show up?

A practical guide to induction setups for students, families, and home food businesses as India’s LPG supply faces its biggest disruption in years

AAP convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday (March 13, 2026) sought to know from Prime Minister Narendra Modi if Iran has given an assurance that Indian ships would be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

His remarks came after Prime Minister Modi on Thursday (March 12) night spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian over the phone and discussed the “serious situation” in West Asia.

The Prime Minister told the Iranian President that the safety and security of Indian nationals, along with the need for unhindered transit of goods and energy, remain India’s top priorities.

In a post on X, the AAP chief asked whether Indians would soon get a reprieve from the serious situation arising out of the West Asia conflict.

“Prime Minister, has the President of Iran assured you that they will allow our ships to pass through Hormuz? Will the countrymen soon be rid of this serious crisis?” Mr. Kejriwal said in the post in Hindi.

Notably, Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping passage through which India’s substantial energy imports come.

Three days back, a bulk oil carrier sailing to India was fired upon by Iranian forces as it was trying to cross through the Strait of Hormuz. -- PTI

The Bombay High Court issued notices to the Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry as well as a private firm in connection with a petition filed by six LPG distributors seeking increased supply of domestic cooking gas cylinders amid the energy crisis due to the Iran war.

The petitioners claimed Nagpur-headquartered Confidence Petroleum India Ltd had failed to augment the supply of household LPG cylinders despite the Centre’s directive prioritising domestic distribution.

The petition, filed through advocates Shyam Dewani and Saahil Dewani, claimed the Iran war had caused disruptions in global crude supply, leading to constraints in LPG production, following which the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had issued orders directing that LPG production and supply for domestic consumers be given priority.

The plea said repeated representations to the company seeking a halt to LPG exports and an increase in supply to the domestic market had not been acted upon. Confidence Petroleum India Limited had informed them that the firm cannot prioritize supply in the domestic market as it has to cater to the international market as per its export strategy, the petitioners claimed.

Justices Anil S Kilor and Raj D Wakode of the Nagpur bench of the HC, while hearing the petition on Thursday, issued notices to Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and Confidence Petroleum India Limited, which is returnable on Monday.

The HC bench said, in the interim, the government’s policy of prioritising the supply of domestic LPG cylinders must be strictly followed.

The petition said the six distributors procure LPG from Confidence Petroleum India Limited and subsequently supply the same to its customers, including households, hotels, small industries, and commercial establishments in Nagpur and other districts of Maharashtra. -- PTI

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut accused the Centre of misleading the public over the availability of LPG cylinders, alleging that ground realities across several states contradict the government’s claim that there is no shortage of cooking gas in the country.

Speaking to mediapersons in New Delhi, Raut said, “The government is lying. PM Modi and Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri are saying that there is no shortage of LPG in the nation, but they should see the reality in Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra, UP, where people are lined up in queues to buy LPG. You might be getting LPG from Trump, Israel, but the common man, hotel owners are facing a lot of problems.”

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government has directed oil marketing companies to immediately resolve technical glitches in LPG booking applications and missed call services to ensure that residents can book gas cylinders without inconvenience. -- ANI

Senior officers from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting briefed the media about the latest updates regarding steps taken by the Government in response to the ongoing situation in West Asia.

The inter- ministerial briefing included updates about the fuel supply situation; preparedness of the Government to ensure uninterrupted energy supplies, maritime safety, welfare of Indian Nationals abroad. Ministry of I&B officials appealed to the citizens to not indulge in panic booking and not believe fake narratives and rumours.

Government issued a statement on the inter-ministerial meeting held on March 12, 2026. The statement said that the Indian refineries are operating at a high-capacity utilisation. It added that retail outlets are functional with adequate stocks of LPG cylinders.

The statement also said “50 lakh cylinders are being delivered every day and domestic LPG production increases by 28%.

It also added that “Port operations across India remain stable.”

Government took coordinated measures across infrastructure, financial facilitation, energy security monitoring and vessel safety operations, it said.

The statement asked the citizens to avoid panic booking of LPG cylinders and appealed to beware of misinformation and rumours.

On flight operations, the statement said “Missions in regular touch with the Indian community members helping them with information for commercial flight options and visas.”

An LPG shortage is forcing around 40% of restaurants in Kerala to shut down as many establishments are unable to switch to alternative cooking methods, industry representatives said.

Apart from restaurants, caterers, hostels, canteens and crematoriums have also been affected by the LPG shortage following the conflict in West Asia.

G Jayapal, president of the Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHRA), told PTI that by Friday around 40% of restaurants in the state would shut down.

“Till Thursday, around 20% of restaurants had closed. The number will increase to 40% by Friday as LPG stocks will run out soon,” he said.

Even though the central and state governments have suggested alternative cooking methods, the KHRA said that using firewood in hotels in urban areas is not feasible.

“As part of food safety standards, most restaurants in urban areas have adopted modern kitchen systems. They do not have arrangements for cooking with firewood or alternative fuels. Restaurants in urban areas are the worst hit by the crisis,” he said.

Jayapal alleged that some private LPG suppliers were charging almost double the price for cylinders and that the price of firewood had also increased in the last two days.

“One of our members in Kasaragod said a private 17 kg LPG cylinder was supplied for ₹3,000. The normal rate for a 19 kg cylinder is around ₹1,800. Firewood prices have also skyrocketed, and it is not easy to switch to alternative measures,” he said. -- PTI

Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty extended their southward journey in early trade on Friday (March 13, 2026), tumbling nearly 1 per cent, as the ongoing conflict in West Asia and surging oil prices continue to spoil investors’ sentiment.

Heavy selling in global markets, persistent foreign fund outflows and weakness in the rupee also added to the bearish trend.

The 30-share BSE Sensex tumbled 708.38 points or 0.93% to 75,326.04 in early trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty dropped 222.05 points or 0.93% to 23,417.10.

Sensex, Nifty drop nearly 1% as West Asia conflict, surging oil prices rattle stock markets

Sensex and Nifty decline nearly 1% amid West Asia conflict and rising oil prices, impacting investor sentiment and market stability.

The rupee slumped 12 paise to its record low of 92.37 against the U.S. dollar in early trade on Friday (March 13, 2026) as global crude oil prices showed no signs of easing amid the ongoing West Asian conflict.

A stronger greenback, heavy FII selling and weak sentiments in the domestic equity markets further weighed on the rupee, according to forex traders.

Rupee hits record intra-day low, falls 12 paise to 92.37 against U.S. dollar

Rupee falls to record low of 92.37 against the dollar amid strong greenback and rising crude oil prices.

The Kerala government on Thursday scrambled to mitigate the distress caused by the shortage of cooking gas cylinders earmarked for commercial use by streamlining supply. 

An urgent meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan directed suppliers to give greater priority to hospitals, old-age homes, orphanages, schools, community kitchens, hostels, IT parks and factory canteens.

LPG shortage: Kerala CM urges distributors to prioritise commercial gas supply for essential services

CM Pinarayi Vijayan urges LPG suppliers to prioritize commercial gas supply for essential services amid ongoing shortages in Kerala.

Indian households are rushing to buy electric induction stoves, draining stocks online and in stores, amid fears of a potential cooking gas shortage tied to the Middle East conflict.

India, the world’s ‌second-largest importer of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), has invoked emergency powers to boost supplies for households even as availability tightens for commercial ⁠users including canteens, hostels and restaurants.

Meanwhile, consumers are buying electric cooking appliances as a precaution, with some households worried about refill delays and higher prices.

Induction stoves fly off shelves in India as gas shortage fears spark panic buying

Indian households are rushing to buy electric induction stoves, draining stocks online and in stores, amid fears of ​a potential cooking gas shortage tied to the Middle East conflict.

The Maharashtra government said it has set up control rooms and district-level committees to ensure uninterrupted supply of LPG amid the West Asia crisis, asserting that there is no shortage of the fuel for domestic consumers.

An official release issued on Thursday (March 12, 2026) said Anil Diggikar, Additional Chief Secretary of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department, has directed authorities to take necessary steps to maintain smooth supply and closely monitor LPG distribution across the State.

The department said there is no shortage of domestic LPG in Maharashtra and citizens need not panic, claiming that the availability of domestic cylinders in March is higher than the supply recorded during the last six months.

“To avoid disruption in supply and ensure coordination in case of any shortage, district-level committees will be formed under district collectors. These panels will include the superintendent of police, district supply officer and officials from government oil companies.

“Their responsibilities will include monitoring the LPG supply chain, maintaining law and order and submitting daily reports on the situation,” the release said.

In the Mumbai-Thane rationing area, a separate committee will function under the Controller of Rationing, it said, with members including the deputy commissioner of police and deputy controller (rationing).

The government said essential services such as hospitals, government hostels, government school and college mess facilities, the mid-day meal scheme and ashram schools will be given priority supply of LPG cylinders. -- PTI

Oil prices held around $100 on Friday (March 13, 2026) and most equity markets dropped after Iran’s leader called for the blocking of the crucial Strait of Hormuz and opening up of new fronts in the war against the United States and Israel.

With the conflict heading towards its third week and showing no signs of ending, investors are growing increasingly worried about an extended crisis that could fan inflation and hammer the global economy.

Oil holds above $100 and stocks fall as Khamenei targets Hormuz

Oil prices remain above $100 as Khamenei threatens the Strait of Hormuz, causing global stock markets to decline.

The tea buyers’ association in Guwahati, one of the world’s busiest auction centres for the beverage, have found a glimmer of hope amid the gloom that gripped the industry after the war broke out in West Asia.

No gas? Try ‘lean’ instant tea to lift mood

Low LPG supply due to the West Asia conflict may boost demand for energy-efficient instant tea products in Guwahati.

Domestic liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) customers experienced difficulties for the second day consecutively, on Thursday, in placing orders successfully for the refills.

Panic booking by the households is the main reason, sources in the oil industry attributed, adding that customers of all three public sector oil companies, IOC, BPCL and HPCL, encountered challenges. The spike in bookings was far higher than the capacity the system can handle resulting in frayed tempers, disappointment and shock for the households.

Domestic LPG refill booking systems tested amid customer rush

Domestic LPG refill booking systems tested amid customer rush

Authorities have seized 38 domestic cooking gas cylinders during raids conducted over two days in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhatarpur district in the Bundelkhand region bordering Uttar Pradesh, officials have said.

The raids came amid reports of a shortage of cooking gas cylinders following the conflict in West Asia, which has disrupted global energy supplies, they said on Thursday (March 12, 2026).

Long queues have been reported outside several LPG agencies in the state. However, the Centre has asserted there is no shortage of petrol, diesel, kerosene or LPG in the country.

The raids were conducted after the Chhatarpur district administration asked officials to take strict action against black marketing, illegal storage and misuse of domestic LPG cylinders.

In the latest action on Thursday, a joint team from the revenue and food departments seized 13 empty LPG cylinders from a water plant in Bilhari village of the Nowgong area, said the officials.

The cylinders were stored illegally and were being traded for commercial use, they said.

The raid was conducted under the leadership of Sub-Divisional Magistrate G S Patel following instructions from in-charge district collector Namah Shivay Arjariya. -- PTI

Russia’s economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev said on Friday (March 13, 2026) that the global energy market “cannot remain stable” without his country’s oil.

His comments came after the United States said it would temporarily allow the sale of Russian oil that is at sea, as energy prices soared after US-Israeli strikes on Iran plunged the oil-rich Middle East into war.

“The United States is effectively acknowledging the obvious: without Russian oil, the global energy market cannot remain stable,” Dmitriev posted on Telegram. -- AFP

There is no shortage of gas supply for Piped Natural Gas (PNG) in Bengaluru and hotels, restaurants, and industries under the PNG network would continue to receive uninterrupted supply of the fuel, assured a senior officer at GAIL Gas Ltd., a subsidiary of GAIL (India) here on Thursday.

Speaking at an industry interactive session on ‘Natural Gas Supply Outlook and Industry Preparedness’ organised by the Bangalore Chamber of Industry & Commerce (BCIC), the official said, “The PNG supply in Bengaluru remains stable and fully under control. Industries, hotels and commercial establishments that are connected to the PNG network need not be concerned, as there is no disruption in supply and business operations will continue uninterrupted.”

No shortage of piped natural gas in Bengaluru: GAIL Gas

GAIL Gas assures Bengaluru that Piped Natural Gas supply remains stable, enabling seamless transitions from LPG for eateries and industries.

In the industrial town of Morbi in Gujarat, the air usually hums with the roar of gas-fired kilns producing millions of square metres of ceramic tiles. Today, however, a quarter of those kilns are cold. Nearly a thousand kilometres away in Ludhiana, Punjab, the textile hubs that clothe a third of India are facing a similar paralysis. The reason is geopolitical.

As the conflict between the U.S. and Iran intensifies, the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most vital oil and gas artery, has turned into a gauntlet. India imports nearly half of its natural gas and immediately felt the pinch — rendered more painful by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, slashing gas allocations to non-priority industrial sectors to just 65-80% of their contracted volumes.

Electrifying industrial heat as a path to India’s thermal independence

Explore how electrifying industrial heat can drive India's thermal independence amidst geopolitical challenges and energy supply crises.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (March 12, 2026) hit out at those trying to create panic on the LPG situation in India, and said they are not only exposing themselves before the people but also hurting the country.

Addressing a summit in New Delhi, Mr. Modi also said that due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, no nation has remained unaffected, but India is fully committed to addressing this challenge and is leaving no stone unturned to safeguard its energy security.

LPG crisis: PM Modi hits out at those creating panic; asks States to monitor black marketers, hoarders

PM Modi condemns panic over LPG, urges states to combat black marketing, and emphasises India's energy security amid global crises.

The West Bengal government on Thursday chalked out the standard operating procedure (SOP) to manage the supply and distribution of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) amid reports of fuel shortage in the country triggered by the conflict in West Asia.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had called for the framing of an SOP at an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss ways to mitigate the situation.

“This SOP is issued to guide coordinated monitoring, stabilise supplies, and facilitate immediate redressal of public grievances. It aims to ensure continuity of critical public services such as midday meals in schools, Integrated Child Development Services, hospital diets, and essential domestic consumption,” the SOP stated.

There is no shortage of petrol, diesel, kerosene, and aviation turbine fuel in the country, Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday (March 12, 2026) while adding that India’s crude supply has been secured amid the conflict in West Asia.

“This is not the moment for rumour-mongering or fake narratives. India is navigating the most severe global energy disruption in recorded history,” Mr. Puri said, adding, “Every citizen, regardless of political affiliation, has a stake in that. India must stand united behind its energy warriors, behind the institutions managing this crisis, and behind the national interest.”

No shortage of fuel in country, says government

Government assures no fuel shortage in the country, prioritizing cooking gas supply and regulating commercial LPG to prevent hoarding.

Asian stocks slumped on Friday (March 13, 2026), poised for a second straight weekly decline as fast-dwindling hopes of a resolution to the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran kept oil prices aloft, casting ‌a shadow over global markets and spurring inflation fears.

The U.S. dollar has become the safe-haven of choice during the tumult, putting most other currencies under pressure. The dollar was set for a second ⁠consecutive week of gains and is up 2% since the war broke out at the end of February.

Oil prices remained close to the closely watched $100 per barrel level, although they eased a bit in early trading on Friday after U.S. issued a 30-day license ‌for countries to buy Russian oil and petroleum products currently stranded at sea.

Brent futures were last at $99.85 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate crude was at $95.05 a barrel.

In Asia, MSCI’s broadest index of ‌Asia-Pacific shares eased 0.5%, on course for a 1.5% decline for the week. Japan’s Nikkei fell 1.3%, while tech-heavy ‌South Korean ⁠stocks slid nearly 2% and Taiwan equities fell 1%.

With Iran stepping up attacks across the Middle ⁠East as its new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei vowed to keep the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane closed, investors are bracing for a prolonged conflict and higher oil prices. -- Reuters