India Seizes 15,000 LPG Cylinders In 12,000 Raids; 94% Bookings Done Online
Govt seizes 15,000 LPG cylinders in raids; assures no shortages amid high panic bookings.
Amid ongoing panic booking for LPG cylinders, the Indian government has intensified monitoring and enforcement, conducting around 12,000 raids and seizing over 15,000 cylinders, officials said on Tuesday. Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary (Marketing & Oil Refinery) at the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, emphasised that while LPG supply remains a concern, there are no reports of dry-outs in the country.
Sharma highlighted that on Monday alone, there were approximately 70,000 panic bookings for LPG cylinders. She urged consumers to avoid hoarding and, where possible, consider alternative cooking options. She noted that 94 per cent of domestic LPG bookings are being placed online, and encouraged continued use of digital platforms. Delivery Authenticity Code (DAC), a measure to ensure verified deliveries, has now increased to 76 per cent.
Several states, including Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Manipur, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Uttarakhand, have issued directives for allocating non-domestic LPG supplies, reflecting efforts to manage distribution amid heightened demand.
Also Read: Madhya Pradesh Raids 1,025 Locations, Seizes 1,357 LPG Cylinders To Curb Black Marketing
On the shipping front, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary at the Ministry of Shipping, confirmed that all 22 LPG-carrying ships and their seafarers around the Gulf region are safe. In the last 24 hours, 161 Indian citizens were successfully repatriated. He also reported that the LPG carrier Nanda Devi reached Kandla Port early Tuesday, while the tanker Shivalik, carrying LPG, docked at Mundra Port on Monday. Consignments are being transferred from mother ships to daughter vessels for inland distribution.
The timely arrival of these shipments comes against the backdrop of significant global oil disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in Iran. The International Energy Agency (IEA) described the crisis as “the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market,” warning that Middle East tensions could reduce global oil supply by about eight million barrels per day in March.
The IEA also revised its global consumption growth forecast downward from 850,000 barrels per day to 640,000 barrels per day — the lowest estimate since its inception of this year’s forecasts. These developments underscore the critical importance of maintaining supply chains and managing domestic distribution to prevent widespread shortages.
Also Read: India Secures Safe Passage of LPG Tanker Shivalik Through Strait of Hormuz
