India hit by Middle East war: Millions face gas shortages

In the weeks leading up to the ceasefire, the impact of the war in the Middle East was felt far beyond the region, reaching countries such as India. The nation of nearly 1.5 billion people relies heavily on imports of cooking gas, or LPG, much of it sourced from the Middle East. When Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz – a critical global shipping route – supplies were severely disrupted. Long queues formed outside distribution centres in major cities, forcing many to turn to the black market. The conflict has also put at risk the lives of nearly ten million Indians living and working in Gulf countries. At least eight Indian migrant workers have been killed in war-related incidents. Many others remain stranded, unable to afford the high cost of flights home, as their families wait anxiously for their return. Even with a fragile ceasefire in place, those affected continue to live in precarity – and, for some, in grief. Report by Supriya Kumar, Fantine Dantzer, Alban Alvarez and Khansa Juned.