US-Israel-Iran war LIVE updates: 'Biggest mistake by our PM is too...,' says Arvind Kejriwal amid commercial LPG shortage in India

• Mumbai hotels make changes to their menus amid commercial LPG cylinder shortage
• Chhattisgarh Hotel and Restaurant Association (CGHRA) asked hotels, restaurants, and caterers to avoid panic buying and hoarding of cylinders
• Protests took place outside Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai against rising fuel and food prices 
• It also advised food businesses to consider using electric cooking equipment
• Hyderabad's popular biryani Shah Ghouse Cafe has turned to traditional firewood stoves to prepare its biryani 

Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khualifi, Qatar's minister of state for foreign affairs, told Al Jazeera that Doha cannot act as a mediator with Tehran while it remains under attack from Iran. He added that both Qatar and Oman faced attacks despite efforts to "build bridges between Iran and the West," adding that regional countries are not Tehran's enemies and it must recognise that. 

Meanwhile, Qatar also issued a fresh public warning on Wednesday about a possible missile attack from Iran as explosions erupted the skies of Doha with air defence systems intercepting incoming missiles and drones. 

Businesses across several major cities are facing a sudden squeeze on 19-kg commercial LPG cylinders. Restaurants, hotels, and hostels have reported significant delivery delays, sparking concerns over daily operations.

Industry groups warn that the disruption is putting pressure on the hospitality sector, which relies heavily on these cylinders for high-volume cooking.

Government sources confirm domestic household supply remains stable and is not impacted by this crunch. Refineries have ramped up LPG output by 10% to bridge the gap.

Authorities have invoked the Essential Commodities Act to stop illegal stockpiling and ensure fair distribution.

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) said in a media statement that it is taking proactive measures to ramp up LPG production from its refining and petrochemicals complexes in Gujarat's Jamnagar. The oil-to-telecom bellwether said that its team are working around the clock to optimise refinery ops to increase LPG output to stabilise supplies across the domestic market. 

The company also said that natural gas produced from the KG-D6 basin would be diverted to priority sectors in keeping with the government guidelines. It added that it is working closely with the Centre to ensure energy supplies reach these sectors. 

"As always, Reliance will stand firmly with the nation in its time of need. In times of global uncertainty, we remain committed to doing everything possible to support India’s energy security and ensure reliable access to essential fuels for the country," the statement added. 

The global energy market is on high alert this morning as the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plant hits a staggering milestone—and not the good kind.

For the fifth consecutive day, no shipments have left Qatar’s massive Ras Laffan facility, according to a Bloomberg analysis of Kpler ship-tracking data. This confirms that no loaded tankers have departed the world's largest LNG export plant in 120 hours. 

The hospitality sector is sounding the alarm over a critical shortage of commercial LPG cylinders, warning that irregular supply chains could soon bring hotel and restaurant operations across the country to a standstill.

KB Kachru, President of the Hotel Association of India (HAI) and Chairman of South Asia for Radisson Hotel Group, highlighted the severity of the situation today. He noted that because professional kitchens rely almost exclusively on LPG, any dip in supply or hike in prices poses a direct threat to business continuity.

Small and medium-sized hotels are at the highest risk, with many facing potential temporary closures if the supply chain isn't stabilised immediately.

Kachru has formally urged the government to classify the hospitality sector as an essential service to prioritise fuel delivery. In a positive turn, the industry has welcomed the government’s move to establish a 24/7 control room dedicated to monitoring fuel supplies.

Full-service carrier Air India and its low-cost arm Air India Express will together operate 58 scheduled and non-scheduled flights to and from West Asia on Wednesday, even as airlines adjust operations due to the ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran.

The carriers said they will continue their scheduled services to Jeddah and Muscat on March 11.

According to a statement issued by Air India on Tuesday, the airline will operate eight flights to and from Jeddah, while Air India Express will run 14 scheduled flights to and from Muscat.

Air India will operate one round-trip each from Delhi and Mumbai to Jeddah. Air India Express will run one round-trip each from Hyderabad and Kozhikode to Jeddah on Wednesday.

The budget carrier will also continue its scheduled Muscat services, including one round-trip each from Delhi, Mumbai, Kannur, Thiruvananthapuram and Tiruchirappalli, along with two round-trips from Kochi.

Apart from the scheduled operations, Air India and Air India Express will operate 36 ad-hoc non-scheduled flights to and from the UAE, subject to slot availability and other prevailing conditions at the departure points.

“These flights are being operated with the requisite permissions from the relevant Indian and local regulatory authorities,” the statement said.

-- PTI

"There is absolutely no shortage of fuel. More details are being worked out. A serious war is going on... In this situation, there will be concerns that will be made known to everybody from time to time by the relevant departments... They are monitoring the situation very closely," Goyal was quoted as saying by ANI.