Police seize 414 LPG cylinders hidden in Hyderabad graveyard amid shortages

New Delhi: Indian authorities have seized 414 cooking gas cylinders concealed in a graveyard in Hyderabad and detained 10 people in connection with alleged black-market sales during supply disruptions linked to the US-Israeli war on Iran, officials said.

According to Sujata Sharma, a senior official at India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the recovery was part of a broader crackdown on hoarding of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders as the conflict’s impact on shipping has strained supplies.

Speaking at a regular briefing on the Middle East crisis on Thursday, Sharma said enforcement action had intensified across the country.

“Just ⁠yesterday, around 2,600 raids were carried out and about 700 cylinders were ​seized,”

she said.

She added that authorities had also uncovered a large cache in Hyderabad.

“In addition, around 400 cylinders were recently found at one location inside a graveyard in Hyderabad. Ten people have been ​detained there, and the distributor involved has been suspended,”

Sharma said.

Police said those accused had been selling both commercial and domestic cylinders from the graveyard at prices far above the prevailing market rate. A commercial cylinder priced at about 2,100 Indian rupees ($22) was allegedly being sold for as much as 6,000 rupees, nearly three times the standard price.

The value of the seized cylinders, along with vehicles allegedly used in the operation, was estimated by police at nearly 2.2 million rupees.

Authorities have stepped up raids as India faces pressure on LPG availability. The country is the world’s second-largest LPG importer and meets around 60 per cent of its demand through imports, most of them sourced from the Middle East.

Sharma said domestic natural gas supplies remained secure despite the regional turmoil.

“The supply of natural gas to domestic consumers is 100pc assured,”

she said. She also said LPG prices for households had not been raised.

“With regard to LPG supply, prices have remained stable ​despite international ⁠volatility, and there has been no increase in the price of domestic LPG cylinders.“

To reduce pressure on LPG supplies, India has been encouraging the use of alternatives including kerosene, coal and biogas, while also speeding up the expansion of piped natural gas connections for households.

Reuters reported it could not immediately reach the accused or their representatives for comment.