Queues outside gas agencies as cooking gas price rises Rs60 amid global energy shock
The ongoing West Asia conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran has triggered panic buying of domestic LPG cylinders in several parts of India, with people seen queuing outside gas agencies amid fears of a shortage.
Videos circulating online show residents lining up with empty cylinders outside gas agencies in states such as Uttar Pradesh and Delhi-NCR. In one video from Birdpur in Uttar Pradesh, hundreds of people were seen sitting on cylinders outside a distribution centre, though the authenticity of the clip could not be independently verified.
Amid rising global energy prices linked to the conflict, the price of a 14.2-kg domestic LPG cylinder was increased by Rs 60 on Saturday. The price of a non-subsidised cylinder in Delhi now stands at Rs 913, up from Rs 853 earlier.
Government sources said the hike was necessitated by a spike in global energy prices. Despite the increase, officials said LPG prices in India remain lower than in many countries.
To curb hoarding and black marketing, the government has increased the lock-in period between LPG bookings from 21 days to 25 days. Officials said some consumers who earlier booked cylinders every 55 days had begun placing orders within 15 days due to panic buying.
Authorities have also directed refineries to increase LPG output and prioritise domestic supply over commercial connections.
The Press Information Bureau urged citizens not to panic, stating that India has more than 250 million barrels of crude oil and fuel stocks, enough to meet demand for seven to eight weeks.
The government also highlighted that India’s refining capacity exceeds domestic consumption and that there have been no petrol pump shortages in the past 12 years.
Meanwhile, the Pune Municipal Corporation has temporarily shut gas crematoriums in the city after restrictions were imposed on the use of LPG components such as propane and butane. Officials said the available supply would be prioritised for domestic cooking gas.
The energy market disruption follows escalating hostilities in West Asia, where strikes between the United States-Israel alliance and Iran have slowed tanker movement through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and gas shipments. The disruption has pushed up global energy prices and raised concerns over fuel supplies worldwide.
