India moved to reassure consumers and stabilise fuel supplies on Thursday as the war in West Asia disrupted shipping routes and triggered panic buying of cooking gas in several cities. 1 3 People stand in a queue with their empty LPG cylinders outside a gas agency amid supply disruptions following the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Ahmedabad, India, March 12, 2026. 2 3 The Liberia-flagged Suezmax tanker Shenlong carrying crude oil berths at the Jawahar Dweep terminal of Mumbai Port in Mumbai, Thursday, March 12, 2026. Despite government reassurances on crude availability, the conflict has triggered panic buying of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in several cities, with long queues reported outside gas agencies as consumers rushed to refill cylinders. To manage the situation, the government has prioritised household LPG supply and curtailed distribution to commercial users, directing refineries to maximise production while urging restaurants and other businesses to temporarily shift to alternative fuels such as kerosene, biomass or coal.

Source: The Telegraph March 12, 2026 20:26 UTC