War in the Middle East has triggered a severe liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) shortage in India, threatening the blue flames that power millions of kitchens. India, the world's second-largest LPG importer, burns about 31 million tons annually, with roughly 60 percent sourced from the Strait of Hormuz. When conflict erupted between Iran and Arab states on February 28, shipping through the strait halted, sparking panic and hoarding.

Government reassurances failed to quell fears, and demand surged as consumers rushed to stockpile cylinders. India now faces a 25 percent supply shortfall for the coming quarter, forcing restaurants to slash menus and households to ration fuel. The crisis underscores India's vulnerability to geopolitical shocks despite decades of expanding LPG access under Prime Minister Modi's 2016 program, which connected over 330 million households to clean cooking fuel.