India, March 18 -- The war in West Asia has not caused domestic LPG stocks to dip; the crisis was triggered by panic buying, the Maharashtra government claimed on Tuesday. The government, however, admitted that commercial LPG users have been hit even as the apex restaurants' association said 40% of eateries in the state are reeling under a cooking gas shortage.

In a meeting with state food and civil supplies minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Tuesday, state-owned petroleum companies said they typically supply 570,000 LPG cylinders in Maharashtra, daily.

Maharashtra has 35.7 million domestic LPG consumers. "Bookings for gas cylinders have increased 30%, indicating panic booking," said an official. "We have sufficient LPG supplies with additiona...