What is the story about?
India is beginning to feel the pressure of a sudden cooking gas squeeze. Supply disruptions linked to escalating tensions in West Asia have slowed LPG shipments headed for Indian ports, forcing authorities to prioritise domestic consumption.
Commercial LPG prices have already moved higher. A 19-kg cylinder is up by about ₹115, while the domestic 14.2-kg refill has risen by roughly ₹60 since March 7.
Prices for petrol, diesel will not go up during this period.
“Prices of Petrol and Diesel will not increase,” a source told CNBC. Sources added that the LPG prices won't be increased either.
The Pune Municipal Corporation has temporarily closed the city's gas crematoriums following restrictions on the use of LPG components such as propane and butane amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, PTI reported.
India LPG Crisis: Import disruptions hit cooking gas supply
At the centre of the crisis lies the Strait of Hormuz. The route handles a large share of India’s LPG imports, and recent military strikes affecting energy infrastructure in the region have slowed shipments from suppliers, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Officials say weekly inflows have dropped by nearly 30%.
To stretch available stocks, oil companies have tightened refill rules. Consumers can now order a new household cylinder only 21-25 days after the previous delivery. Delivery agents have also begun using OTP or biometric verification to prevent hoarding and diversion. Commercial supplies, meanwhile, are taking the bigger hit.
Punjab, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh: Where restrictions were imposed
Here's how the LPG shortage is affecting states across India:
Punjab
Oil marketing companies halted dispatches of non-domestic LPG cylinders across Punjab on March 8. The suspension covers 19-kg commercial packs and larger industrial cylinders. Authorities said the move was necessary to protect household supplies as imports weakened. Distributors have been advised to reject any refill bookings before the 25-day period.
Maharashtra
Commercial LPG volumes have been sharply reduced at plants in Nagpur, Pune and Mumbai. Supplies to restaurants, cloud kitchens have fallen significantly - even gas crematoriums in Pune have been temporarily shut. According to reports, roughly 9000 restaurants and bars could be forced to suspend their services.
Andhra Pradesh
Central guidelines are being strictly enforced in several districts. Distributors have been told to suspend new commercial allocations whiledomestic demand is prioritised. Thousands of hotels and small eateries say supplies have fallen sharply - requesting the government for uninterrupted LPG supply as lakhs of people - either directly or indirectly- depend on their services.
Telangana
Commercial LPG dispatches have been frozen in parts of the state, including Hyderabad. Existing stocks are being rationed carefully amid the ongoing crisis. Officials say the measure is temporary but necessary while import flows remain uncertain.
Tamil Nadu
Oil companies have also stopped fresh commercial cylinder dispatches in Chennai and Coimbatore. Industry bodies have urged a partial rollback, warning of pressure on restaurants and food businesses.
Himachal Pradesh
Following new instructions issued by oil companies, consumers will now be able to book their nextLPG cylinder only 25 days after the delivery of the previous cylinders. The revised rule came into effect across the state on Saturday. The online booking portal and phone booking systems will automatically reject any request made before the 25-day period.
The government has invoked emergency provisions under the Essential Commodities framework. Oil marketing companies - Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum - have been directed to divert more propane and butane toward household cylinders and restrict non-essential use.
Kolkata
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd(BPCL) have introduced a 21-day lock-in period for domestic LPG refills - they came into effect on Friday after bookings increased sharply over the past few days.
How long will this shortage last?
G7 finance ministers are discussing a coordinated release of emergency oil reserves. The bloc, which holds about 1.2 billion barrels in reserves, is reviewing the move after consultations with the International Energy Agency.
Mukesh Sahdev, founder CEO and chief oil analyst at XAnalysts, told CNBC-TV18, any release would take time due to freight and insurance logistics, adding that additional crude from Russia and Algeria could also enter the market.
K M Thakur, chief general manager (LPG) of IOC, insisted that supplies remain sufficient. "There is no scarcity of LPG as of now," requesting customers not to indulge in panic booking.
For now, the government maintains that household supplies remain stable for the coming weeks. Much will depend on whether alternative cargoes, including shipments from the United States, arrive on schedule.
Commercial LPG prices have already moved higher. A 19-kg cylinder is up by about ₹115, while the domestic 14.2-kg refill has risen by roughly ₹60 since March 7.
Prices for petrol, diesel will not go up during this period.
“Prices of Petrol and Diesel will not increase,” a source told CNBC. Sources added that the LPG prices won't be increased either.
The Pune Municipal Corporation has temporarily closed the city's gas crematoriums following restrictions on the use of LPG components such as propane and butane amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, PTI reported.
India LPG Crisis: Import disruptions hit cooking gas supply
At the centre of the crisis lies the Strait of Hormuz. The route handles a large share of India’s LPG imports, and recent military strikes affecting energy infrastructure in the region have slowed shipments from suppliers, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Officials say weekly inflows have dropped by nearly 30%.
To stretch available stocks, oil companies have tightened refill rules. Consumers can now order a new household cylinder only 21-25 days after the previous delivery. Delivery agents have also begun using OTP or biometric verification to prevent hoarding and diversion. Commercial supplies, meanwhile, are taking the bigger hit.
Punjab, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh: Where restrictions were imposed
Here's how the LPG shortage is affecting states across India:
Punjab
Oil marketing companies halted dispatches of non-domestic LPG cylinders across Punjab on March 8. The suspension covers 19-kg commercial packs and larger industrial cylinders. Authorities said the move was necessary to protect household supplies as imports weakened. Distributors have been advised to reject any refill bookings before the 25-day period.
Maharashtra
Commercial LPG volumes have been sharply reduced at plants in Nagpur, Pune and Mumbai. Supplies to restaurants, cloud kitchens have fallen significantly - even gas crematoriums in Pune have been temporarily shut. According to reports, roughly 9000 restaurants and bars could be forced to suspend their services.
STORY
| West Asia crisis: Pune gas crematoriums shut temporarily
The Pune Municipal Corporation has temporarily closed the city's gas crematoriums following restrictions on the use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) components such as propane and butane amid the ongoing West Asia… pic.twitter.com/wgnehWbm7A
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 9, 2026
Andhra Pradesh
Central guidelines are being strictly enforced in several districts. Distributors have been told to suspend new commercial allocations whiledomestic demand is prioritised. Thousands of hotels and small eateries say supplies have fallen sharply - requesting the government for uninterrupted LPG supply as lakhs of people - either directly or indirectly- depend on their services.
Telangana
Commercial LPG dispatches have been frozen in parts of the state, including Hyderabad. Existing stocks are being rationed carefully amid the ongoing crisis. Officials say the measure is temporary but necessary while import flows remain uncertain.
Tamil Nadu
Oil companies have also stopped fresh commercial cylinder dispatches in Chennai and Coimbatore. Industry bodies have urged a partial rollback, warning of pressure on restaurants and food businesses.
Himachal Pradesh
Following new instructions issued by oil companies, consumers will now be able to book their nextLPG cylinder only 25 days after the delivery of the previous cylinders. The revised rule came into effect across the state on Saturday. The online booking portal and phone booking systems will automatically reject any request made before the 25-day period.
The government has invoked emergency provisions under the Essential Commodities framework. Oil marketing companies - Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum - have been directed to divert more propane and butane toward household cylinders and restrict non-essential use.
Kolkata
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd(BPCL) have introduced a 21-day lock-in period for domestic LPG refills - they came into effect on Friday after bookings increased sharply over the past few days.
How long will this shortage last?
G7 finance ministers are discussing a coordinated release of emergency oil reserves. The bloc, which holds about 1.2 billion barrels in reserves, is reviewing the move after consultations with the International Energy Agency.
Mukesh Sahdev, founder CEO and chief oil analyst at XAnalysts, told CNBC-TV18, any release would take time due to freight and insurance logistics, adding that additional crude from Russia and Algeria could also enter the market.
K M Thakur, chief general manager (LPG) of IOC, insisted that supplies remain sufficient. "There is no scarcity of LPG as of now," requesting customers not to indulge in panic booking.
For now, the government maintains that household supplies remain stable for the coming weeks. Much will depend on whether alternative cargoes, including shipments from the United States, arrive on schedule.
