New Delhi: The Centre said it had secured fuel supply and stepped up evacuation support for citizens amid the West Asia crisis, while confirming that all Indian seafarers in the region remained safe with no incidents reported in the past 24 hours.
The government advised Indians to avoid travel to Iran and urged those already there to leave through land borders with embassy support. So far, the Indian Embassy in Tehran has helped 2,443 nationals exit Iran through these routes.
Meanwhile, authorities moved to stabilise fuel availability across India. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said there was no shortage of petrol, diesel, or LPG, and warned against panic buying. It also asked consumers to rely on official information and use digital LPG booking systems.
To strengthen supply, DAC-based LPG deliveries rose above 94.5%, which helped prevent diversion. Online booking reached nearly 99%, while no distributor reported stockouts. The government also prioritised domestic LPG and ensured full supply to PNG and CNG users.
Officials increased commercial LPG allocation to about 70% of pre-crisis levels. At the same time, supply of 5 kg free trade LPG cylinders for migrant workers was doubled. Since April 1, over 18.63 lakh such cylinders were sold, including 80,000 units in a single day.
LPG measures under West Asia crisis expand outreach
Public sector oil companies organised more than 8,770 awareness camps since April 3 to promote 5 kg cylinders. These camps helped sell over 1.38 lakh units. Enforcement also intensified, with over 2,400 raids conducted nationwide to curb hoarding and black marketing.
Refineries operated at high capacity to maintain stock levels. Since April 9, more than 7,000 metric tonnes of propylene were supplied from refineries in Mumbai, Kochi, Vizag, Chennai, and Mathura to support chemical and pharmaceutical industries.
The government also cut excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹10 per litre to protect consumers from rising global crude prices. Retail outlets continued normal operations, and officials confirmed that fuel prices remained unchanged at PSU outlets.
In the maritime sector, authorities maintained close coordination to ensure safe operations. Over 2,729 Indian seafarers have been repatriated so far, including 49 in the last 24 hours. Port operations across India remained smooth without congestion.
The Centre said it continued to monitor developments closely while coordinating with states and agencies to maintain supply chains, counter misinformation, and ensure public confidence during the West Asia crisis.
