25.03.2026 02:20
Due to the war in the Middle East, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to traffic and attacks on Iran's energy facilities have led to a decrease in global oil supply. This situation has caused an oil crisis in India, which meets a large portion of its energy needs through Hormuz. The Indian government announced that the country has about one month's worth of oil reserves left. This has resulted in a rush of people to gas stations in the world's most populous country.
The closure of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz due to the war that broke out in the Middle East, along with Iran's refusal to grant passage to tankers and attacks on energy facilities, has significantly reduced global oil supply.
THE LARGE COUNTRY HAS 1 MONTH OF RESERVES LEFT
These developments, which have shaken supply chains, have caused an oil crisis in India, which meets a large part of its energy needs through the Strait of Hormuz. While the government announced that there is one month's worth of reserves left in the country, the population of the world's most populous country rushed to gas stations. People nearly trampled each other for a drop of gasoline.
The process that began with the operations of the US and Israel against Iran at the end of February turned into a global energy crisis with the Tehran administration's decision to close the Strait of Hormuz. With the closure of the strait, through which about one-third of the world's oil supply passes, Brent crude oil prices rose above $100 per barrel.
THOUSANDS RUSHED TO GAS STATIONS
Oil scarcity has also manifested itself in India. The country is experiencing a serious oil crisis. The population, with 1.4 billion people, has formed huge crowds in front of gas stations.
Images spreading on social media show that long queues have formed at gas stations across India, with people coming close to trampling each other. Especially in major cities like Tamil Nadu, Delhi, and Mumbai, the public rushed to the stations with cans and plastic bottles, fearing that prices would rise further or that fuel would completely run out.
INDIAN ECONOMY "IN A DOUBLE BIND"
Analysts emphasize that India is one of the countries most affected by this crisis. The country imports 60% of its cooking gas (LPG) needs, and 90% of this import was carried out through the Strait of Hormuz. With the closure of the strait, not only fuel but also cooking gas and transportation costs have started to rise dramatically.
"DON'T HOARD" CALL
The Indian government has stated that its strategic oil reserves are at a level that will last for about a month, calling on the public to "not panic" and to "avoid hoarding." However, the ongoing conflicts in the region and the continued blockage in the Strait of Hormuz continue to fuel energy concerns in the world's most populous country.