Indians flock to fuel pumps as Iran war drives shortage fears

From Gujarat to Tamil Nadu, long lines at fuel pumps reflect growing anxiety over oil supplies even as officials urge calm and assure of adequate supply.

DW has the latest.

Here is a roundup of all the major events in India on Wednesday, March 25:
Sonia Gandhi admitted to the hospital
Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has been admitted to the hospital, media reports said on Tuesday.

No details about her condition were immediately available.

Reports said her children, Members of Parliament Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were with her at the time of admission.

Long lines at pumps as Iran war fuels shortage fears
Long lines for fuel were reported on Wednesday from across India, even as the government reiterated that there is adequate supply .

As the Iran war continues with no viable end in sight, the specter of its impact on crude oil prices and availability drove people in India to flock to fuel depots over fears of a potential shortage.

Long lines were reported from major cities in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.

In Gujarat, the police have been deployed at fuel pumps to quell panic buying, an Al Jazeera video showed.

The government, meanwhile, announced that adequate stocks of petrol, diesel, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are available and that people should not believe rumors of shortages.

Sujata Sharma, a senior petroleum ministry official, said, "We have checked it from the field and all petrol pumps are working normally and adequate fuel is available at all such facilities."
The Iran war has stifled traffic through the vital Strait of Hormuz by up to 90%.

India, heavily reliant on the route for over 40% of its crude imports , imposed emergency measures and engaged Tehran to secure safe passage for its ships.

Two Indian-flagged tankers carrying LPG have sailed through the strait on Monday and are due to dock in India in the coming days.

This is Shakeel from DW's New Delhi studio, bringing you the latest developments from across India .

Amid uncertainty surrounding the Iran war and its impact on crude oil prices, people thousands of kilometers away in India are lining up at fuel depots out of fears of a potential shortage.

In other news, the heavily contested transgender bill was passed by the lower house of Parliament amid an opposition walkout.

Meanwhile, Kerala Police have issued notices to X users, asking them to remove posts related to an Election Commission document bearing the BJP's seal.

For all this and more, stay tuned as we bring you the day's biggest stories from India.