India has secured a vital diplomatic breakthrough amidst the Middle East conflict, with Iran granting special permission for Indian vessels to navigate the strategic Strait of Hormuz. While US, Israeli, and European ships remain under restriction, Indian tankers ‘Pushpak’ and ‘Parimal’ are on their way to Indian ports, providing much-needed relief for the country’s energy supplies.

However, the real-world impact of the 13-day conflict continues to haunt India’s hospitality sector. With 85-90% of India’s imported LPG passing through this route, restaurants are facing an acute shortage of commercial cylinders. In cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru, many iconic eateries are either shutting down or severely downsizing their menus to conserve fuel. The government has increased the refill interval to 25 days and shifted priority to domestic households, causing prices to spike—domestic cylinders now cost ₹913 in Delhi, with significant hikes in commercial rates, leaving the restaurant industry in a state of high uncertainty.