Surat Gas Crisis: Why 1 in 3 Migrant Workers are Fleeing the Textile Hub

A severe cooking gas crisis triggered by geopolitical tensions in West Asia has sparked a mass exodus of migrant laborers from Surat, India’s prominent textile hub. 

Thousands of workers, primarily from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Odisha, are crowding railway stations like Udhna to return to their native villages. 

While industrial work remains available, the inability to secure fuel for basic sustenance has made staying in the city unsustainable for nearly 15 lakh migrant residents.

Black Markets and Prohibitive Costs

The shortage stems from supply chain disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz following recent escalations in the Iran-Israel conflict. 

With imports nearly halted, the price of LPG in Surat’s black market has reportedly skyrocketed to ₹500 per kilogram. 

Many workers living in rented accommodations have gone without cooking gas for over two weeks. 

Efforts to use traditional firewood have been blocked by room owners concerned about property damage, leaving families with no choice but to leave. 

“We cannot afford gas at these rates, and we cannot cook without it,” shared one departing worker at Udhna station.

Surat Textile Hub on the Brink

The sudden labor drain has dealt a heavy blow to Surat’s ₹500 billion textile industry. 

Approximately 400 dyeing and printing mills and lakhs of powerlooms are facing a workforce shortage of 30% to 40%. 

In response, the South Gujarat Textile Processors Association (SGTPA) has announced a mandatory two-day weekly shutdown to manage production costs and navigate the crisis. 

Some mill owners have resorted to setting up community kitchens and providing free meals to prevent their remaining staff from leaving.

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A Structural Energy Crisis

While the Indian government has initiated emergency LPG imports from the United States and successfully navigated two tankers through the Gulf, the domestic market remains extremely tight.

Trade unions warn that if the supply does not stabilize by April, the industrial output of the region could drop by 50%. 

For the migrant workforce, the crisis is a reminder of their vulnerability to global energy shocks, as many vow to return only after the gas supply is fully restored.

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