Indian authorities have seized hundreds of cooking gas cylinders in Hyderabad after uncovering a black-market operation allegedly taking advantage of supply disruptions linked to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Officials said 414 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) canisters were recovered from a graveyard where they had been secretly stored for illegal resale, and several people were arrested in connection with the case.
According to government sources, nationwide raids have been intensified to prevent hoarding amid tightening LPG supply conditions, as India relies heavily on imports to meet domestic demand.
Authorities said thousands of inspections were carried out recently across multiple locations, resulting in the seizure of several hundred additional cylinders suspected to be part of hoarding networks.
The seized cylinders were reportedly being sold at significantly inflated prices, with investigators saying commercial units were being resold at nearly three times their market value.
Officials, however, assured that domestic gas supply remains stable and uninterrupted, adding that measures are being taken to control distribution and prevent artificial shortages.
The government has also encouraged the use of alternative energy sources and the expansion of piped gas networks to reduce pressure on imported LPG supply chains.
