The ongoing Middle East war has significantly affected LPG supplies in India, creating delivery delays nationwide. In many cities, households that previously received cylinders within one or two days now wait for a week or more. Residents of Delhi’s Karol Bagh faced difficulty arranging gas cylinders for large family events amid supply shortages. Many had to rely on alternative fuels such as coal to manage cooking. This issue is not limited to affluent families; millions of middle- and lower-income households struggle daily. Supply disruptions are mainly linked to congestion at the Strait of Hormuz, through which the majority of India’s imported LPG passes. The shortage has also created anxiety among consumers about black market prices and availability.
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Middle East War Disrupts LPG Supply, India Faces Delays Across Multiple States
In Delhi-NCR, LPG cylinders remain available, but delivery timelines have stretched significantly. Lower- and middle-income households are the hardest hit, with many reporting waits of seven to ten days. Some customers received delivery notifications without receiving cylinders, raising concerns about black marketing. Prices on the black market have surged, ranging from ₹2,000 to ₹6,000 per cylinder. Migrant workers and residents without proper documentation face even greater difficulties accessing LPG. Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections mitigate the problem in certain areas, but overall, deliveries remain slower than usual.
Northern states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand are also experiencing mixed impacts of the LPG shortage. In Varanasi and Agra, cylinders that previously took two to three days now take 15 to 20 days for delivery. Some residents are forced to buy from the black market at inflated prices. Many households in Bihar have reverted to traditional chulhas using firewood or cow dung cakes. In Jharkhand, delivery times have increased to a week. Although monitoring has become stricter to prevent unofficial sales, black marketing continues at higher levels.
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Delivery Delays Hit Households and Businesses
In Karnataka, LPG delays are uneven, with Bengaluru residents waiting 20 to 25 days for cylinders in some areas. In Mangaluru, households are receiving LPG after 30–40 days. These delays have forced families to switch to firewood and traditional stoves. Tamil Nadu has stabilized after initial panic, with most households receiving cylinders on time. However, commercial supply remains an issue, forcing small eateries to use alternative fuels. In West Bengal, online bookings are accessible, but deliveries are delayed by 7–12 days, and black market activity continues.
Cities with PNG networks, such as Ahmedabad and Mumbai, are coping better with the shortage. Cylinders are largely available, though queues and minor delays persist. Rajasthan and Punjab have seen less panic, but deliveries still take 7–10 days, and some households resort to black market purchases. Overall, the situation has slightly improved since March, but supply-demand gaps remain. Poorer households are most affected as they cannot afford expensive black market cylinders. Even a month into the Iran war, LPG availability continues to challenge households relying entirely on cylinders.
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