India's energy crisis deepens as President Trump's war on Iran disrupts liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, forcing millions to revert to kerosene cooking fuels. The conflict has exposed India's vulnerability after the government spent years transitioning households from kerosene to cleaner LPG, a move that improved health outcomes and reduced domestic violence.

Roughly 60 percent of India's LPG is imported, with most shipments previously passing through the strategic strait. Now, with war slowing deliveries to a trickle, LPG rationing has begun, triggering panic buying, black markets, and restaurant closures. The government's emergency measures include reviving kerosene distribution, despite many households no longer owning kerosene stoves and rural areas lacking infrastructure for the fuel.

Beyond cooking fuels, the crisis ripples across South Asia. Pakistan imports over 85 percent of its oil from the Persian Gulf and has implemented austerity measures, while Sri Lanka reduces office hours. Fertilizer prices spike as one-third of global supplies move through the strait, threatening harvests. The economic fallout extends to remittances from South Asian workers in the Middle East, which are vital for countries like Nepal where they constitute about one-quarter of GDP. As American military actions disrupt supply chains, millions across Asia face escalating costs for food, medicine, and basic necessities.