Two liquefied petroleum gas tankers have crossed the Strait of Hormuz bound for India, offering relief to a nation grappling with severe cooking fuel shortages. The Shivalik and Nanda Devi, both owned by India's Shipping Corp of India Ltd., were chartered by state-run Indian Oil Corp. after securing safe passage through the strategic waterway.

A diplomatic arrangement between New Delhi and Tehran allowed the vessels to transit a strait that had been effectively closed for nearly two weeks due to regional tensions. The tankers loaded at Ras Laffan in Qatar before navigating the Persian Gulf. Both ships transmitted signals identifying them as Indian government vessels through their AIS systems, though electronic interference has complicated precise tracking.

The relief shipment comes as India, the world's second-largest LPG importer, faces acute shortages affecting both household cooking needs and industrial processes. The country sources approximately 90% of its LPG from the Middle East, making the Strait of Hormuz a critical chokepoint for its energy security.