Since the escalation of the US-Iran conflict, 10 India-flagged vessels have successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz, according to Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The Indian government is prioritizing the safe passage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tankers due to an acute shortage of cooking fuel in the country. Notably, the crude oil tanker Desh Garima, carrying 31 Indian seafarers, crossed the strait on April 18 and is expected to reach Mumbai by April 22. Meanwhile, India's national security adviser, Ajit Doval, visited Saudi Arabia on April 19 to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues with top officials. To combat the LPG shortage, the government has successfully gasified over 493,000 piped natural gas (PNG) connections since March 2026, with more than 551,000 customers registered for new connections. The average daily sale of auto LPG has risen to 350 tonnes, a significant increase from 177 tonnes per day in February, reflecting the urgent demand for cooking fuel.