Govt Ensures Energy Supply, Citizen Safety Amid West Asia Tensions

The Government of India has stepped up preparedness measures to ensure uninterrupted energy supply, safeguard maritime operations, and support Indian nationals amid the evolving situation in West Asia.

According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, strict enforcement actions are underway to curb hoarding and black marketing of LPG, with over 2,300 raids conducted across the country.

The ministry reported that online LPG bookings have reached 98% across the industry, with approximately 49.8 lakh cylinders delivered against bookings of 41.6 lakh. Delivery Authentication Code-based distribution has risen to around 93%, aimed at preventing diversion.

Additionally, around 21.7 lakh 5 kg FTL cylinders were sold in February, with over 79,000 units delivered. Commercial LPG allocation has been increased to about 70% of pre-crisis levels, including a 10% reform-linked allocation. Since March, about 5.88 lakh PNG connections have been activated, with infrastructure ready for an additional 2.68 lakh connections.

On the maritime front, authorities confirmed that all Indian seafarers in the region are safe, with no incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels reported in the last 24 hours. The DG Shipping Control Room has handled over 8,200 calls and more than 17,000 emails since its activation.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs has activated a dedicated control room to assist Indian nationals and their families. The Indian Embassy in Tehran has facilitated the evacuation of 2,490 Indians through land border routes.

The government also noted improvements in flight operations, with additional services being deployed to bring back citizens from affected regions.