The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Saturday said all domestic LPG consumers are required to complete their biometric Aadhaar authentication (e-KYC).

The ministry further said that the verification can be completed from home using the mobile app of your oil marketing company and Aadhaar FaceRD app.

It also advised consumers to contact their LPG distributor and provided a toll-free helpline number for assistance.

This comes as the ongoing situation in the Middle East has led to a shortage of LPG cylinder supplies in Indian cities. The West Asian conflict, triggered by US and Israeli attacks on Iran, has blocked shipping through the vital Strait of Hormuz.

The price of a 14.2 kg domestic LPG cylinder in Delhi has increased from Rs 853 to Rs 913 – a hike of Rs 60 – while commercial cylinder prices have risen by Rs 115 to Rs 1,884.50 (for a 19 kg cylinder).

This shortage has led to panic buying, and authorities have reported several cases of hoarding. In Kengeri, Karnataka, police arrested a 30-year-old man for selling LPG cylinders of different brands at higher prices. In Delhi, police have suspended all regular holidays and deployed staff around the clock at cylinder depots to prevent hoarding and black marketing.

PC: Indianexpress