Lockdown in India in 2026: Here's the truth behind viral scare [Fact check]

Time flies, and how. It's been six years since the lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic, and the memories are still fresh. The pandemic and lockdown left scars on millions of households that lost their loved ones. And now, years later, Indians are getting a sense of déjà vu.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his Rajya Sabha address, addressed the nation when he said that just like India battled COVID-19 together, it can overcome the Iran–Israel war as well. This left many people anxious, with fears creeping in—will there be another lockdown?

Lockdown in 2026 starts trending

Netizens quickly flocked to social media, with "lockdown" trending across platforms. Meme pages were flooded with jokes, recalling past moments and even wondering what "task" PM Modi might assign this time. With rumours of LPG shortages doing the rounds, some joked that people would now bang empty cylinders instead of utensils.

But the situation soon turned serious. Motorists and households began hoarding LPG cylinders and rushing to petrol pumps to refill tanks. This triggered long queues and chaos at fuel stations across several cities.

In Hyderabad, petrol bunks witnessed a heavy rush, with long queues reported in Secunderabad, Jubilee Hills, Banjara Hills, Old City, Attapur and Rajendranagar. The panic worsened after some pumps displayed "No Stock" signs, largely due to temporary supply or payment issues, not an actual shortage.

Snarls of rage were reported in areas like SR Nagar, Ameerpet and Panjagutta, forcing police to step in and calm motorists using public announcement systems. The Telangana Petroleum Dealers Association also dismissed rumours, stating that panic buying had pushed fuel sales to nearly 2.5–3 times normal levels, leading to temporary stock exhaustion at some outlets.

In Maharashtra's Solapur, the issue is more specific to LPG auto gas. A single operational LPG pump has led to queues stretching up to 1–1.5 km, severely affecting auto drivers' daily earnings. Prices have also risen by around ₹35.

Across Gujarat, including Ahmedabad and Mehsana, rumours triggered an unprecedented surge in demand, with petrol pumps witnessing 8–10 times the usual footfall. Fuel meant to last two days was sold out within hours. Officials, however, reiterated that adequate stock is available and urged citizens not to panic.

A similar situation unfolded in Madhya Pradesh, where cities like Indore, Ujjain and Dewas saw panic buying despite sufficient supply. Authorities warned of strict action against those spreading rumours.

Late-night panic buying was also reported in parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, with people rushing to petrol pumps amid fears linked to the West Asia conflict.

Fact check

The Centre has repeatedly assured that petrol, diesel and LPG stocks are adequate nationwide and refineries are operating at high capacity. Measures such as increased LPG production, expansion of PNG connections, and strict action against hoarding are being implemented.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) clarified that no revisions have been made to the existing refill booking norms for LPG connections.

The ministry stated that some media reports and social media posts had claimed that refill booking timelines had been altered to 45 days for Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) beneficiaries, 25 days for non-PMUY single-cylinder users, and 35 days for non-PMUY double-cylinder consumers.

"No such changes have been made," the official statement said, adding that the current timelines remain unchanged.

As per the existing norms, LPG refills can be booked after 25 days in urban areas and 45 days in rural areas, irrespective of the type of connection.

The government also urged citizens not to believe or circulate such misinformation and to avoid unnecessary or panic booking of LPG refills.

It further assured that adequate LPG stocks are available across the country and there is no cause for concern.

Meanwhile, all domestic refineries are operating at high capacity with adequate crude inventories. Domestic LPG production has increased, and petrol and diesel stocks remain sufficient, according to the government.

The government has also ensured that ships carrying crude oil and LPG have arrived from multiple countries, and it continues to work on contingency plans to keep supplies uninterrupted.

In addition, a state-owned PSU firm – BPCL -- said that Bharat Petroleum rumours about petrol and diesel shortages in certain areas are completely unfounded.

"There is no shortage of fuel across the nation. India is a net exporter of petrol and diesel," the company said.

The Centre has also constituted seven empowered groups of officials and experts to handle the fallout of the Iran war on specific sectors of the Indian economy, including oil, gas, fertilisers, supply chains, and inflation.