Strait of Hormuz: India races to secure LPG, evacuate citizens

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Two LPG tankers breach the Strait, 2.2 lakh Indians return home, and Delhi holds daily war-room briefings — here is everything the government is doing to keep India’s fuel and citizens safe.

By S. JHA

Mumbai, March 16, 2026 — India is running a full-scale crisis operation. As the Strait of Hormuz closure enters its third week, the government held its fifth consecutive inter-ministerial media briefing on Monday, with the Ministries of Petroleum, Ports and External Affairs presenting a picture of controlled urgency — adequate stocks for now, but a situation that demands daily management.

Domestic LPG production has been ramped up by 36 percent. No dry-outs have been reported at any distributorship or retail fuel outlet. Online cylinder bookings have risen from 84 percent to 90 percent — a sign of anxiety among consumers — but the government is pushing back against panic, urging citizens to use digital booking platforms and avoid unnecessary visits to distributors.

Two Indian-flagged LPG carriers that crossed the Strait of Hormuz on March 14 — carrying a combined 92,712 MT of LPG — are now close to Indian shores. Vessel Shivalik was scheduled to berth at Mundra Port on Monday evening. Nanda Devi is expected Tuesday morning. Raids against hoarding and black-marketing are underway across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Assam and Mizoram.

Citizens: 2.2 lakh home, thousands still stranded

Since February 28, approximately 2,20,000 Indian nationals have returned from West Asia and the Gulf. Over 550 Indians in Iran have crossed into Armenia through the land border; more than 90 have entered Azerbaijan. The Embassy in Tehran remains fully operational.

In the UAE, flights from Dubai International Airport resumed on Monday after a temporary suspension. Over 45 flights to India are planned for the day. Kuwait airspace remains closed since February 28. Qatar Airways is expected to operate three flights to India over Monday and Tuesday.

Two Indian nationals lost their lives in an attack in Sohar, Oman on March 13. The Embassy in Muscat is coordinating repatriation of the mortal remains.

India is not yet in a fuel crisis — but it is one bad week in the Strait of Hormuz away from one. “Every lever of government is currently pulled. Whether that holds depends entirely on what happens next in West Asia,” said a senior official.