Middle East crisis triggers panic buying in Kashmir

Srinagar, Mar 11: Escalating tensions in the Middle East have begun to trigger panic buying across Kashmir, with long queues forming outside LPG distribution centres as anxious residents rush to secure cooking gas amid fears of a possible supply disruption.

Across several areas of Srinagar and other districts of the Valley, consumers were seen lining up outside gas agencies and waiting for hours to obtain LPG refills.

The rush has been particularly intense during the ongoing holy month of Ramadhan, when household cooking requirements increase significantly.

Many residents complained that despite booking LPG cylinders through the official system and receiving confirmation messages, deliveries are getting delayed, forcing them to visit distribution points personally.

“I have been waiting here for nearly four hours just to get my refill,” said Abid Ahmad, standing in a queue outside a gas agency in Srinagar.

“I had booked the cylinder a week ago and even received the OTP confirmation, but the gas cylinder has still not been delivered to my home. Because of Ramadan, gas consumption is high, and people are worried.”

Similar complaints have surfaced from different parts of the Valley, where consumers said delays in delivery and uncertainty about supply have increased anxiety among households.

Some residents said the rush intensified after reports about the ongoing conflict in West Asia and its potential impact on global petroleum supplies began circulating on social media and messaging platforms.

“Till yesterday, we were told not to panic, and that there is no shortage of gas, but on the ground, people are struggling to get cylinders. The government should clarify the situation because people are worried,” another consumer said.

Several consumers also reported issues with the LPG booking system, including delays in receiving OTP verification messages and long waiting times after booking.

For many families, the delays have become particularly challenging during Ramadhan, when cooking for Sehri and Iftar requires regular use of gas.

However, LPG distributors have insisted that there is no shortage of LPG in the Valley and that the current rush is largely the result of panic buying by consumers.

According to LPG Dealers Federation (Kashmir) president Jagmohan Singh Rainas, the Valley currently has sufficient stock of LPG cylinders, and the supply chain remains functional.

“We have enough stock available. There is no shortage as such,” he said, adding that the problem is that people are trying to secure extra cylinders due to fear.”

He explained that panic buying disrupts the normal supply pattern and creates temporary shortages at the local level.

“In normal circumstances, a delivery worker may have to supply four cylinders in a locality. But now, when he arrives, ten or more people surround him, asking for cylinders immediately. Under pressure, he ends up distributing cylinders on the spot, even to those who have not booked. This affects scheduled deliveries and causes delays for others who have booked earlier,” one of the LPG distributor said.

Distributors also said that some households are attempting to refill additional cylinders even when they already have one or two at home, further increasing demand.

Experts say the fear among consumers is largely linked to the ongoing geopolitical crisis in the Middle East, which plays a critical role in global energy supplies.

The region accounts for a significant portion of the world’s oil and gas production, and disruptions in shipping routes or supply chains can have ripple effects across international energy markets.

Some distributors pointed out that global petroleum supply routes have already become more uncertain due to tensions in the region.

“Several petroleum routes have been affected, and shipping costs are increasing. If the conflict expands, it could influence global fuel prices and logistics. But for now, India has sufficient reserves,” a distributor said.

According to industry estimates, India currently maintains around one month’s stock of petroleum products and LPG at the national level.

In Jammu and Kashmir as well, multiple LPG bottling plants and petroleum depots maintain reserves to meet routine demand.