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Shortage spreads across major cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Punjab, and Haryana, as Strait of Hormuz tensions disrupt imports.

Chandigarh: A severe shortage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders has disrupted daily life across several parts of India, with consumers facing long queues outside gas agencies and delays in cylinder deliveries.

Reports from multiple cities indicate that the shortage has triggered black marketing and hoarding, with cylinders being sold at three to four times the official price in some areas. The sudden spike has put considerable pressure on household budgets.

Punjab and Haryana are facing supply stress.

The shortage has also begun affecting Punjab and Haryana, where consumers and small businesses are reporting delayed supplies. In parts of Punjab, particularly Ludhiana, Jalandhar, and Amritsar, residents have complained about delays in refills and rising black-market prices. Many dhabas and small eateries have started shifting to diesel-based burners or induction plates due to uncertainty in LPG supply.

In Haryana, long queues were reported outside gas agencies in cities such as Karnal, Panipat and Rohtak. Several roadside eateries and tea stalls have also reported operational difficulties due to irregular deliveries of cylinders. Industry bodies have warned that if supplies are not normalised soon, restaurants, dhabas, and small food outlets may be forced to suspend operations temporarily.

Delhi Residents Struggle as Prices Soar

In the national capital, residents say the crisis has begun affecting routine kitchen operations. “Most buildings here use PNG, but households dependent on LPG are suffering. Cylinders are being sold for ₹3,000 and in some cases even ₹5,000. Many people are now buying electric stoves, and even those are going out of stock. Residents were advised to arrange alternatives, such as induction cooktops, with the notice stating that the current price of a cylinder had reached around ₹3,060. The sudden surge in demand has also led to shortages of induction cooktops and electric stoves.

Government Urges People Not to Panic

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people not to panic and warned against black marketing. “I request the state governments to enhance monitoring to stop black-marketers and hoarders in such times,” he said, adding that strict action would be taken against those exploiting the situation.

Why LPG Supplies Are Under Pressure

The crisis is largely linked to disruptions in global energy supply chains following tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for LPG shipments.

According to the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC):

• India consumed 3.08 crore metric tonnes of LPG between April 2025 and February 2026.

• The country imported 1.87 crore metric tonnes during the same period.

• Domestic production stood at 1.06 crore metric tonnes.

India imports around 60% of its LPG requirement, and nearly 90% of those imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, making the country highly vulnerable to disruptions in the region.

Government Steps to Stabilise Supply

Officials from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said steps were being taken to stabilise supply. Joint Secretary Sujatha Sharma said LPG production had been increased by about 30% to meet demand. She added that refineries have adequate crude oil stocks and the government is closely monitoring the supply chain. Despite these assurances, consumers across several states say relief is yet to reach them, with queues at distribution centres continuing to grow.