NEW DELHI, March 12, 2026 — The escalating conflict in the Middle East has found its way into the heart of India’s corporate sector. In a surprising turn of events, the ongoing war involving Iran, the U.S., and Israel has triggered a domestic energy crunch that is forcing some of India’s largest IT firms to reconsider their office operations as cafeteria services grind to a halt.

HCL Tech and the Return of Remote Work

In Chennai, HCL Tech has offered its employees the option to work from home on March 12 and 13. The reason is not a technical glitch, but a severe shortage of cooking gas. Senior executives confirmed that multiple food vendors within the campus were unable to operate due to an acute LPG crunch. With the campus unable to feed its workforce, the company opted for a two-day remote work window to avoid operational stress.

The Rising Cost of Energy

The disruption is driven by a sharp spike in energy prices following regional instability. In India, the price impact is already hitting wallets:

• Domestic LPG: A 14.2 kg cylinder has increased by ₹60.
• Commercial LPG: The 19 kg cylinders used by businesses and restaurants have jumped by a staggering ₹144.

This price surge has made commercial operations difficult for vendors who serve large corporate hubs. Several restaurants across major Indian cities have reportedly shut down entirely as supply chains for commercial gas become both expensive and unreliable.

Infosys Issues “Limited Menu” Advisories

The crisis is not isolated to a single firm. Infosys, one of India’s largest employers with over 3.3 lakh staff, has issued advisories at its Bengaluru and Chennai campuses. Employees have been warned that cafeterias will operate with significantly fewer menu options.

The company has taken the following drastic steps:

• Suspended Live Counters: All live food stations have been stopped to conserve gas.
• Home-Cooked Food Advisories: Employees are being encouraged to bring their own meals from home where possible to mitigate the impact of the commercial LPG shortage.

Corporate “War Rooms” and Global Exposure

Beyond the cafeteria, the conflict poses a broader risk to India Inc. With more than 9 million Indians working across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, major corporations have started mapping staff locations and setting up internal war rooms to monitor safety and operational continuity.

Bottom Line

The situation serves as a stark reminder of how quickly an overseas conflict can disrupt daily life in India. While the initial effect is seen in fewer lunch options and temporary work-from-home shifts, the scale of the disruption at giants like HCL and Infosys suggests that Indian businesses are bracing for a much longer period of economic and operational uncertainty if the West Asia crisis persists.