Indian Migrant Workers Flee Cities Amid Cooking Gas Shortages Linked to Middle East Conflict
Thousands of Indian migrant workers in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru are returning to their rural villages due to severe shortages of cooking gas cylinders. The scarcity is attributed to disruptions in global shipping routes caused by the ongoing war in the Middle East, specifically affecting the Strait of Hormuz, through which India imports a significant portion of its Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). While the Indian government claims there is no shortage and urges citizens to avoid panic buying, migrant workers relying on informal networks report weeks-long struggles to secure fuel. This crisis has forced some to revert to polluting alternatives like firewood or kerosene, while others have lost employment as small businesses shut down due to lack of commercial gas. Experts warn that if this reverse migration continues, it could severely impact labor-intensive sectors such as construction, textiles, and manufacturing.
Wire timeline
Indian Migrant Workers Flee Cities Amid Cooking Gas Shortages Linked to Middle East Conflict
Thousands of Indian migrant workers in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru are returning to their rural villages due to severe shortages of cooking gas cylinders. The scarcity is attributed to disruptions in global shipping routes caused by the ongoing war in the Middle East, specifically affecting the Strait of Hormuz, through which India imports a significant portion of its Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). While the Indian government claims there is no shortage and urges citizens to avoid panic buying, migrant workers relying on informal networks report weeks-long struggles to secure fuel. This crisis has forced some to revert to polluting alternatives like firewood or kerosene, while others have lost employment as small businesses shut down due to lack of commercial gas. Experts warn that if this reverse migration continues, it could severely impact labor-intensive sectors such as construction, textiles, and manufacturing.
BBC News