India, March 14 -- The demand for cooking gas in India has surged amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, reflecting widespread panic buying, the Government said on Friday, even as domestic LPG production has risen by 30 per cent. LPG bookings jumped to 75.7 lakh in March from an average of 55.7 lakh, driven by anxiety over supply disruptions. Online bookings rose to 83 per cent in March from 71 per cent in February.

In a joint inter-ministerial briefing, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said 100 per cent of domestic LPG is being supplied to households. She confirmed that commercial LPG supply has slowed, affecting food businesses, but the Union Government has placed these cylinders at the disposal of S...