New Delhi

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Thursday assured that fuel supplies across the country remain stable despite ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia, urging citizens not to believe rumours or resort to panic buying.

In an official statement, the government said that all retail fuel outlets are functioning normally and there is no shortage of petrol or diesel. “There are adequate stocks of petrol and diesel available at all petrol pumps in the country,” the ministry said, emphasizing that the situation is under control.

The assurance comes amid concerns triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route, due to escalating regional conflict. Despite this, the government stated that all refineries in India are operating at high capacity with sufficient crude oil inventories to ensure uninterrupted supply.

While acknowledging that LPG supply chains have been impacted by the global situation, the ministry clarified that domestic distribution remains unaffected. “No reported dry-out at LPG distributorships” has been observed, and delivery of domestic cylinders continues as usual.

To strengthen supply, the government has increased domestic LPG production and boosted allocations for commercial use. An additional 20 per cent allocation has been approved, taking the total to 50 per cent for sectors such as restaurants, hotels, industrial canteens, food processing units, and community kitchens. Over 37,000 small LPG cylinders were sold on Wednesday alone.

Further measures include an additional allocation of 48,000 kilolitres of kerosene to states and union territories to reduce pressure on LPG demand, particularly among vulnerable populations.

The government has also directed states to take strict action against hoarding and black marketing. Authorities are conducting widespread inspections under the Essential Commodities Act. According to the ministry, more than 2,600 raids have been carried out, leading to the seizure of over 450 cylinders, registration of more than 680 FIRs, and arrest of 195 individuals.

States have been asked to enhance public communication through daily briefings and advisories, while also monitoring misinformation on social media platforms.

On the logistics front, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways confirmed that port operations across the country remain normal, with no congestion reported. It also stated that Indian seafarers in the region are safe, with no incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels in the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs continues to assist Indian nationals in West Asia. The government noted that approximately 4.5 lakh passengers have returned to India since February 28, aided by improving flight operations.

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Reiterating its appeal, the government urged citizens to rely only on official sources for information and avoid unnecessary panic. “Citizens are advised to avoid panic purchase of petrol, diesel and LPG,” the statement said, calling for responsible consumption and public cooperation during the evolving global situation.